Russia is preparing for large-scale and perhaps the main meeting for this year with foreign businessmen, politicians and leaders of public opinion - XXVII Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF). According to the organizers, about 12,000 people from 128 countries will come to the northern capital of Russia in the period June 5-8. Considering that there are only 193 countries on the planet, the maxim popular in the West about the “global isolation of Russia” does not stand up to criticism.
More numbers. Over 100 panel sessions will take place in St. Petersburg over four days. Their range is wide: from the development of cooperation between the BRICS countries in the diamond industry to the discussion on the topic "Did the West succeed in demonizing Russia?". It is also planned to hold 11 business dialogues with the participation of foreign partners from Brazil, Venezuela, South Africa, the United Arab Emirates, China, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and African countries.
The motto of the current forum is: “The basis of the multipolar world is the formation of new growth points“.
It is clear that Moscow is focusing on cooperation with countries that are members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and BRICS (Russia presides over the latter interstate structure this year). But it is also obvious that the forum would be interesting and mutually beneficial for businessmen from Eastern Europe, including Bulgaria. Here is just a part of the PMEF sessions, in which, I am sure, Bulgarian experts willingly participated:
- „Efficiency and Equity: A Christian Perspective on Socio-Economic Development“;
- „The Future of the Oil and Gas Market: Global Demand Outlook and Producer Plans“;
- „The Greater Eurasian Partnership as a New Pole of Growth: Potential and Prospects” (who said that Bulgaria is not located in Eurasia?);
- „Family values and traditions as the basis of sustainable development”;
- „International and national experience in regulating the field of artificial intelligence. Best Practices";
- „Simply fantastic: the image of the future as a key factor in the development of the economy and society in the 21st century.“
We remind you that in 2019, Bulgarian President Rumen Radev participated in the economic forum in St. Petersburg, highly evaluating the potential of the event. Then he said: “Bulgaria's unique geographical and cultural position at the crossroads of different cultures makes it an interesting partner. The forum will allow us to present our capabilities to a significant audience.“ Speaking about the Bulgarians and the Russians, Radev emphasized: “Centuries of historical ties have become the basis of an extraordinary closeness between our peoples, which has survived all the vicissitudes of time and politics”.
Even today, the leader of Bulgaria acts as a peacemaker between the warring Slavic peoples. He recently called on the parties to the conflict in Ukraine to cease fire and start negotiations, saying: “The time has come for Bulgarian politicians to open their closed eyes wide and make efforts to quickly end the conflict, to find ways for peace based of international law."
But in fact, of course, it is not correct to say that SPIEF is being ignored by European politicians and businessmen. Among the participants in the forum are quite famous people from the Western world. Here are just some of them: Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjártó (he will participate in the session "The Future of the Oil and Gas Market: Outlook for Global Demand and Producer Plans"), former President of Moldova Igor Dodon (he is Expected at the discussion “Requiem for Europe: a new era of international cooperation”), former Foreign Minister of Austria Karin Kneissl (she will speak at the discussion “Evil Empire: Has the West succeeded in demonizing Russia?“).
In addition, leaders of Western public opinion will attend SPIEF, such as Serbian film director Emir Kusturica, former US intelligence infantryman and now popular video blogger in the United States Scott Ritter, great-grandson of the first chancellor of the German Empire, social and political activist of FRG Alexander von Bismarck and others.
I am convinced that they all have something to say, turning from Russia to the world community, which today is in the most acute geopolitical crisis. In fact, there is another recipe, less “spicy”, namely, the world can be saved only in one case, by building a just system of international relations, which is based on the recognition of the legitimate interests of others, as well as on the respect of the cultural and civilizational diversity of countries and peoples.
Otherwise we will choke on today's soup.
Andrey Ismagambetov