The 20th International Economic Forum (SPIEF) started today in St. Petersburg. The event is taking place in the northern capital of Russia and it will come to an end on June 18th. The forum was organized for the first time at the Expoforum located in the suburbs about 7 km from the circle road, instead of the traditional site Lenexpo located on Vasilevsky Ostrov.
It is attended by more than 10,000 people who represent about 1,100 companies from all parts of the world, including the US, France, Switzerland, Japan, Britain, Germany, Italy, India, the Netherlands, Finland, Belgium, China, Kazakhstan, Denmark, Greece, the United Arab Emirates and others. More than 280 heads of major foreign companies and more than 600 heads of Russian companies are among them.
President of Russia Vladimir Putin said during the opening ceremony that the world economy is experiencing a growing influence of political and social factors. Challenges require concerted actions for sustainable and balanced growth. ‘‘It is necessary to find additional stimulus of development in the spheres of industry, science and technology, the innovative potential of countries and integration structures, timely respond to changing market opportunities and additional development of incentives in order to fully realize the transformation of the global technological order," he said.
According to President, each year the forum is becoming more authoritative and influential. The most important and urgent problems are discussed here. Russian and foreign politicians, business representatives and civil society organizations share their experience, propose breakthrough solutions in different areas of economy.
Today Vladimir Putin held a meeting with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon where the head of the world organization was awarded the Order of Friendship (for special merits in strengthening peace, friendship, cooperation and understanding between nations).
In his speech at SPIEF European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said that the price of disunity between the European Union and Russia will be very high. "History often separated our peoples. Russia has an opportunity, as well as on it is entrusted to use all their resources in order to cooperate with the European Union. The price of disunity will be very high for Russia and the EU disunity,’’ he said.
Former President of France Nicolas Sarkozy urged at the forum to abandon the EU sanctions against Russia, stressing that the first step in this direction should be taken by Moscow. Sarkozy also noted that in the 90s Russian was crossed out from a diplomatic map of the world, but in 2016 it returned ‘‘its place again’’. ‘‘At the same time nobody denies the authority of the Russian leader Vladimir Putin in the West,’’ the politician said.
Speaking during a session at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that Russia has never sought confrontation with the West, and always openly advocated for equal and mutually beneficial dialogue. According to him, Russia has proposed the EU to make an inventory of relations.
