Strategic Partnerships: Exhibitions and Congress Events as a Key Diplomacy Tool for Russia and the International Community
During recent events such as the G20 summit, the 4th ASEAN–Russia Summit and the East Asia Summit, the President of Russia has underscored the need for enhanced political, economic and humanitarian collaboration between Russia and partner countries. The key priority on today’s agenda is developing mutually recognizable COVID-19 vaccination passports and widening access to coronavirus vaccines.
In line with Russia’s stated foreign policy priorities, exhibitions and congress events are becoming increasingly relevant. Roscongress Foundation events, for example, facilitate the development of international cooperation through the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation and BRICS and promote dialogue in the Asia-Pacific region, ASEAN, Latin America and Africa, the Eurasian Economic Community, the CIS and the business (B20), youth (Y20) and women’s (W20) pathways of the Group of Twenty, as well as at UN events (UNIDO, UNWTO and the youth network Friends for Leadership, etc.). Such events help to forge international trade ties, attract foreign investment and cutting-edge technology to the Russian Federation, promote Russia’s interests on the development and sustainability of the Arctic, enhance the country’s role in the humanities, culture, science and education worldwide and support social initiatives, such as charitable projects and volunteering.
“In recent years, the world has been faced with an increasing number of challenges of global significance from a political, economic, social, environmental and climate point of view. The pandemic has exacerbated this situation and has brought new problems which can only be solved with the participation of all countries. Russia is invariably open to negotiating internationally, sharing experience, discussing constructive ideas and developing solutions irrespective of foreign policy trends and circumstances. However, at all levels – from the federal level to the municipal one – the task of implementing national development strategies should be the top priority. I’m convinced that holding major exhibition and congress events opens up opportunities and facilitates the development of solutions to address emerging challenges facing the international community,” said Anton Kobyakov, Advisor to the President of the Russian Federation.
The Roscongress Foundation, which has gained unique experience in holding exhibition and congress events in the highly complex conditions of the pandemic, is continuing to attract a large number of international partners to participate in its events. This creates communication platforms for dialogue, strengthens international cooperation and showcases Russia’s projects on the international stage. A prime example of this in 2021 was the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, which has remained a major global business event since the beginning of the pandemic, and the Eastern Economic Forum held in Vladivostok, a global exhibition and congress event in the Asia-Pacific region. Holding major exhibition and congress events in 2021 in Russia was possible thanks to the establishment of safety standards aimed at preventing the spread of COVID-19, developed by the Roscongress Foundation in cooperation with Rospotrebnadzor and in line with WHO requirements.
The Roscongress Foundation works with 160 international business partners, trade and enterprise unions and finance, trade and business associations in 75 countries. Roscongress events are attended by delegations from 208 countries and territories. In 2022, the Roscongress Foundation is planning to hold a series of major events: the Russian Investment Forum (15–18 February), the 6th International Arctic Forum ‘Arctic – Territory of Dialogue’ (11–13 April), the 25th anniversary St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (15–18 June), the 10th St. Petersburg International Legal Forum (June–July), the 7th Eastern Economic Forum (5–8 September) and the 25th World Energy Congress (24–27 October), among others.
