MOSCOW, April 22. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin will participate in the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF), scheduled for June 18-21, said Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Pankin at a joint briefing of the Foreign Ministry and the Russian Congress Foundation, the event's main organizer.
"I will begin my short speech with the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum. It will be held on June 18-21. This is one of the largest and most influential business events in the world," he said.
"It has been held annually since 1997. As you already know, since 2006 the forum has been held under the patronage and with the participation of the president of Russia. It will be the same this time."
Pankin said that the SPIEF serves as "a platform for dialogue and the development of business relationships," which has no analogues. "This is an opportunity to find partners for business growth in Russia and abroad, including partners from different industries, from different regions, with divergent views and approaches to doing business," he continued. "This is an opportunity to expand the number of customers and suppliers."
The SPIEF has established itself as a "significant global event," Pankin said. "It discusses modern economic challenges facing not only Russia, but also emerging markets and the world as a whole in an applied way. Practical decisions are being made, innovative large-scale projects are being launched, and new approaches to adapting the global economy to the current conditions are taking shape," he said.
"We plan that this year the event will traditionally be attended by top-level delegations. There will be many industry ministers, politicians, parliamentary leaders, heads of international organizations, business representatives, experts, and scientific and academic circles."