On 6 March, the Group of Strategic Vision «Russia – Islamic World» held an information meeting with ambassadors of OIC (Organization of Islamic Cooperation) member states at the Reception House of the Russian Foreign Ministry.
This meeting is a continuation of the group’s efforts to consolidate cooperation with representatives of OIC countries and to keep them informed of the latest developments in Russia’s domestic and foreign policies.
The event was attended by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Rais of the Republic of Tatarstan and Chairman of the Group of Strategic Vision «Russia – Islamic World» Rustam Minnikhanov, Deputy Chairman of the Strategic Vision Group Farit Mukhametshin, Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Marat Khusnullin and Head of the Tatarstan Investment Development Agency Talia Minullina. In addition, representatives of federal and regional authorities, members of the group, heads of Russian regional associations and representatives of Muslim and Christian clergy were invited to the meeting for a frank discussion.
Foreign diplomats accredited in Russia came to the Foreign Ministry to hear Moscow’s position on major international issues. They were ambassadors from Algeria, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bahrain, Egypt, Iran and other countries.
Why was Russia’s stance so important to the ambassadors? What is the outcome of the group’s work in 2022 and its prospects for the current year – these and other questions were raised as part of the discussion.
Besides, the participants discussed the agenda for the group’s special meeting scheduled for 19 May 2023 – “Russia – Islamic World: Traditional Spiritual and Moral Values as a Basis for Interreligious Cooperation” – and Russia – Islamic World: KazanForum 2023 International Economic Forum under the motto “Economy of Trust: Partnership between the Russian Federation and States of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation” to be held on 18-20 May.
Photo: official website of the Rais RT
Opening the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister of Russia Marat Khusnullin noted that development of partnership between Russia and countries of the Muslim world in economic and humanitarian areas would ensure promising international projects with prominent Islamic organizations.
The politician also expressed his gratitude to OIC member states for openness, multi-vector nature of activities, honest dialogue and support in all areas of cooperation with Russia.
Photo: official website of the Rais RT
In his speech, Sergey Lavrov told foreign ambassadors about the Russian position on a number of topical international and regional issues in connection with the current complex international situation. He also summed up the results of interaction and stated Russia’s priority promising areas for developing relations with countries of the Islamic world.
He stressed that such international events are of great significance for a fruitful partnership, adding that further strengthening of mutually respectful relations of the largest Eurasian power, Russia, with the Islamic world was among the constant priorities of the national foreign policy.
‘We are united by a commitment to cultural and civilizational diversity of peoples around the world and their right to determine their own political, social and economic development,’ the minister said.
Lavrov said that Russia, together with Muslim states, stands for the formation of a more just, democratic, multipolar world order based on the principles of the UN Chapter. The diplomat reminded that this year marks the 20th anniversary of President Vladimir Putin’s historic speech at the meeting of OIC leaders of states and governments in Malaysia.
In the politician’s opinion, the observer status granted to Russia in this organization has become a solid platform for cooperation aimed at jointly seeking adequate responses to numerous challenges of our time.
‘The Group of Strategic Vision "Russia – Islamic World", established in 2006 and chaired by Rustam Minnikhanov, has become the core mechanism of our dialogue and promotion of promising mutually beneficial projects. Over the years, various useful initiatives aimed at strengthening the atmosphere of friendship, trust and mutual understanding between our countries and peoples have been launched within its framework,’ Sergey Lavrov said.
In conclusion, the diplomat announced the Russia – Islamic World: KazanForum International Economic Forum to be held in Kazan at the end of May. It will coincide with a special meeting of the Group of Strategic Vision.
Photo: official website of the Rais RT
During his speech, Rais of the Republic of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov thanked the minister and the staff of the Foreign Ministry for supporting the work of the group and thanked all foreign and Russian colleagues for their contribution to developing mutually beneficial cooperation within the Group of Strategic Vision "Russia – Islamic World".
In his turn, Minnikhanov briefed heads of diplomatic missions on the results of the group’s activities in the past year 2022, as well as planned events for the current year 2023. ‘They include a special meeting in Kazan in May this year and a retreat in Kuala Lumpur in July’. According to Rustam Minnikhanov, the celebration of the 1100th anniversary of the adoption of Islam by Volga Bulgaria had a wide resonance in the Islamic world. Last year Kazan was the OIC Youth Capital, which hosted the Global Youth Summit.
‘The Group of Strategic Vision "Russia – Islamic World", which I chair on behalf of President Vladimir Putin, is a platform for consultation at the level of public and political figures, business community, academics and clerics with authority and influence in Islamic countries. Economic, scientific and practical, religious and cultural events are held under its aegis. Annual general meetings of the group’s members, one of which was held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, are a kind of summing-up. Today we are working on the organization of the next group’s meeting in Malaysia,’ the Rais of the Republic of Tatarstan said.
Besides, the politician elaborated on the forthcoming Russia – Islamic World: KazanForum International Economic Forum.
‘Participation of guests in the forum’s business program will give a good practical return in trade and economic, investment, scientific and technical, humanitarian and many other spheres,’ Rustam Minnikhanov is convinced.
Farit Mukhametshin, deputy chairman of the Federation Council Committee on International Affairs, presented a substantial report on the group’s work and key tasks ahead.
In his speech, he drew attention to the importance of the unifying factor – the joint desire to promote a broad rapprochement of Russia with states of the Islamic world on the basis of equal dialogue and partnership, oriented towards expanding cooperation in various areas, including the strengthening of traditional spiritual and moral values, in the process of developing cultural diversity and partnership between civilizations.
In this context, it is no coincidence that the activities of the Group of Strategic Vision «Russia – Islamic World» are becoming a unifying public platform.
According to Farit Mukhametshin, the annual meeting of the Group of Strategic Vision «Russia – Islamic World» and the Russia – Islamic World: KazanSummit 2022 International Economic Forum held in Kazan in May were of crucial importance last year.
Participation in events of prominent state and public figures, leaders of spiritual institutions of world religions, representatives of cultural and scientific circles, media community, heads of major Islamic international organizations and Christian religious figures has shown the relevance and timeliness of the problems discussed.
‘The meeting deeply analyzed and summarized our country’s rich experience in shaping Russian civic identity through preserving ethno-cultural diversity, developing inter-ethnic and interreligious dialogue, as well as intensification cooperation between Russia and Muslim states, and highlighted a high level achieved in these relations,’ he concluded.
The meeting then continued with a vivid and informative presentation of upcoming events for 2023 by Talia Minullina, head of the Investment Development Agency of the Republic of Tatarstan.
Photo: official website of the Rais RT
‘These are meetings of intergovernmental commissions, over 140 sessions as part of the business program, a plenary session with the countries’ leadership and a rich tourism and cultural program. There is a congress of religious figures and a celebration of the adoption of Islam in Russia to be held in Bolgar on 21 May.
Other events planned include a ballet festival, national exhibitions in museums, the Golden Puck children’s ice hockey tournament, the Islamic Ice Hockey Association meeting, the Figital Games of the Future, an Islamic fashion show featuring collections by OIC designers, an Islamic cuisine festival, the first OIC chef competition, a classical music festival and many other exciting events.
As far as a business program is concerned, it includes international cooperation, Islamic finance, halal industry, business opportunities, technology, innovations, investments, industry, sustainable development, women’s perspective, forum for young diplomats and young entrepreneurs, education, sport, healthcare, small business and logistics.
There will also be informative conferences in Türkiye, Indonesia, Egypt, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Malaysia and Iran,’ Talia Minullina shared the group’s plans.
All the meeting participants noted that dialogue between the Russian federation and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation is progressing in all directions, while opening up new prospects for joint efforts, including those in parliamentary and humanitarian spheres.
Promising tasks considered by the group for 2023 and subsequent years include discussing topical issues related to the implementation in Russia of elements of Islamic economy based on the experience of leading Muslim countries, deepening contacts with Central Asian states and South-East Asia, taking into account the tasks of combating the tendency to distort the true image of Islam and strengthening cooperation in education, culture and spiritual ties. In addition to it, the application of partnership banking as a tool of the innovation ecosystem will make it possible to expand strategic cooperation between Russia and Islamic countries.
Further development of the group’s activities will be an important step towards consolidating cooperation on economic and humanitarian aspects and will ensure access to promising partnership projects with international Islamic organizations, including those with a youth focus.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Russian Foreign Ministry