The St. Petersburg International Economic Forum 2017 dubbed 'Achieving a New Balance in the Global Economic Arena' will kick off in St. Petersburg on June 1.
Russian president Vladimir Putin will hold short meetings with Austria’s Chancellor Christian Kern, President of Republica Srpska Milorad Dodik, Prime Minister of the Iraqi Kurdistan Nechervan Barzani and Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency Yukiya Amano on the sidelines of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, the presidential aide Yury Ushakov said.
"Other meetings (between Putin and other leaders and heads of delegations) are not ruled out," the Kremlin representative said.
Putin will hold a brief meeting with Prime Minister of the Regional Government of Iraqi Kurdistan Nechirvan Barzani to discuss trade and economic issues as well as the fight against terrorism, Ushakov added.
"There will be a brief meeting, a very brief meeting with the Prime Minister of the Kurdish Autonomous Region of the Republic of Iraq, Nechirvan Barzani. It will focus on trade and economic issues, but may also expand to topics related to the fight against terrorism in Syria," Ushakov told reporters.
On June 2, Vladimir Putin is scheduled to participate in the SPIEF plenary meeting. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Austrian Federal Chancellor Christian Kern and Moldovan President Igor Dodon are also expected to address the forum.
In addition, Putin will take part in a panel discussion dubbed Russia-US Business Dialogue.
He will hold talks with the Austrian federal chancellor and United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres. Putin will also discuss Russia’s investment climate and business potential with the CEOs of top foreign companies.
Heads of the largest international organizations will participate in the forum, including the UN, IAEA, IMF and OPEC, Ushakov noted. The SPIEF program provides for 108 business events, Ushakov added. The St. Petersburg International Economic Forum 2017 will be held in St. Petersburg on June 1-3.
