The off-site meeting of the Group of Strategic Vision (GSV) “Russia – Islamic World” recently concluded in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, under the chairmanship of Tatarstan's Rais, Rustam Minnikhanov. The theme of this year's gathering was “Russia and the Islamic World: Cooperation in the Era of Emerging Multipolarity.”
The event brought together distinguished figures, including Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim; Mohamed Salah Tekaya, Director-General of Political Affairs at the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC); Dr. Osman Bakar, Rector of the International Islamic University Malaysia; and numerous experts. Messages of goodwill were sent by Russian President Vladimir Putin, OIC Secretary-General Hissein Brahim Taha, and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, among others.
Key Discussions and Outcomes
The meeting addressed pressing global challenges and the evolving political landscape, focusing on areas such as politics, economics, finance, culture, and the humanities. As a result of these discussions, the GSV outlined the following priorities for 2025:
Deepening Cooperation with ISESCO in Education, Science, and Youth Policy
Plans include fostering collaboration with leading universities in Muslim-majority countries and exploring innovative models of cooperation in education and scientific research. The potential of Russian universities and technology hubs will play a pivotal role in these efforts.
Enhancing Engagement with OIC Institutions
A roundtable is scheduled for March 2025 in Jeddah, where representatives from the OIC Secretariat will collaborate on a roadmap for joint initiatives.
Preserving Spiritual and Moral Values
The Group aims to promote interfaith dialogue and strengthen partnerships among religious leaders to protect shared values between Russia and the Islamic world.
Combating Extremism and Discrimination
Efforts will focus on countering Islamophobia and advocating for the rights of the Russian Orthodox Church abroad, while bolstering cooperation to fight extremism and terrorism.
Leveraging Shared Historical Values
The longstanding interaction between Islam and Orthodoxy will serve as a foundation to enhance the partnership between Russia and the Islamic world, emphasizing traditional family values.
Learning from Malaysia’s Expertise in Islamic Finance
Malaysia’s experience in Islamic finance and digital ecosystems will be leveraged, starting with a pilot project in Tatarstan. This initiative aims to incorporate best practices in consulting and system development.
The Expert Council of the GSV “Russia — Islamic World” has been tasked with several follow-up activities. These include analyzing the outcomes of the Kuala Lumpur meeting, formulating actionable recommendations, and compiling a multilingual collection of speeches delivered at the event.
In response to Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s proposal, the Council will also explore the establishment of an analytical group. This team, in collaboration with a partner institution, will monitor global developments, produce analytical reports, and identify new opportunities to deepen ties between Russia and the Islamic world.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: official website of the Rais RT