The importance of global
events in today’s world is hard to be overestimated for economic, political and
cultural growth of a host country. One of such events has become the 5h Eastern
Economic Forum held in Russia’s Vladivostok on September 4-6, 2019.
Due to the geographic
location of Vladivostok in the Russia’s Far East, Russia plays a key role in collaboration
and integration with the ASEAN countries. The Forum has become a unique
platform for developing business dialogues such as Russia-ASEAN, Russia-Europe,
Russia-China, Russia-Japan and Russia-South Korea. It also has allowed to
define pathways for the future world’s sustainable development and to woo
foreign investments in the Russia’s Far East.
According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, over 4,000 representatives of
official and business circles from more than 30 countries are taking part in
the forum, with the biggest delegations from Asia, Europe and the
US.
One of the EEF 2019 highlights was the meeting between Russia’s
President Vladimir Putin and Indian PM Narendra Modi. The two leaders have agreed
to strengthen the ties between their countries to boost economic collaboration.
“This is a historic opportunity
to give a new impetus to cooperation between our countries,” said Modi.
According to experts, Russia’s aspiration to host such events speaks
about Russia’s openness and transparency. The forum can be used by
international community as an expert platform like the St.Petersburg Economic Forum
and INNOPROM, held in Yekaterinburg annually.
The Global Manufacturing and Industrialization Summit
(GMIS-2019) was held in Yekaterinburg from July, 9 through July, 11. GMIS-2019 business
program included more than 40 events, business breakfasts, panels sessions on
global business priorities, dialogues with global industry leaders, seminars
and presentations. GMIS-2019 discussions focused on topics such as digital
transformation and green technologies, smart cities, the development of
low-carbon production, safety in industrial automation, robotics, and
artificial intelligence.
The GMIS opening ceremony started with the welcome speech of Badr Al–Olama, Head of the Organising Committee for GMIS who said: “Nature should continue inspiring us on our path of technological innovation and transformation in the advent of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. This will allow for clean air, water, food, and quality of life to be sustained for generations to come. We are proud to announce our second global initiative that is inspired by the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, and his vision of using sustainable and eco-friendly solutions that are inspired by nature. We look forward to the realisation of this global vision in partnership with academia, the start-up community, and the manufacturing sector.”
Dmitry Kozak, Deputy Chairman of the Government of the
Russian Federation, said: “Synchronization of GMIS with the main industrial
exhibition INNOPROM makes the 2 events an effective platform for strengthening
international industrial cooperation, a unique discussion platform for the
joint identification of actual problems of industrialization.”
“Russia’s desire to develop a modern manufacturing
sector using 4IR technologies makes it an ideal venue for GMIS in 2019,” said
Suhail Mohammed Faraj Al Mazroui , Minister of Energy and Industry of the
United Arab Emirates.According to the Director General of the United Nations
Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) Lee Yong, “the 4th Industrial
revolution will affect all of us, and expert discussions on these issues at
GMIS can ensure a course for sustainable development”.
Russia’s
President Vladimir Putin said: “I am convinced that ensuring clean air, water, food,
and quality of life and life expectancy for billions of people requires
drastically new technologies and technical devices, which are less
resource-intensive but much more eco-friendly. Such uber efficient scientific
engineering, manufacturing solutions will allow us to strike a proper balance
between bio and techno spheres. This includes the so-called nature-inspired
technologies. They imitate natural processes and systems. They follow the laws of
nature. I believe that in our era of tectonic changes and uncertainty, the
priority for us are the intrinsic values, the creation of better opportunities
for life and development of people. This great responsibility lies with us for
the future of our planet and we need to work together.”
The summit was held at the newly-built Congress Centre. The modern design and the infrastructure of the 42,000m2 Congress Centre was mentioned by the UNIDO head Li Yong as well as other high-profile guests. The Congress Centre accommodates conference halls, a media centre, art gallery, exhibition space, seminar rooms and lounges. It will become a major venue, presenting the widest diversity of exhibitions and events that will support the economic, industrial and cultural vitality of the city and region of Ekaterinburg.
The GMIS-2019
is about to take off on July, 9. The summit is a joint venue of the United
Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the United Arab
Emirates. Russia provides great opportunities for the development of industry
and high technology. The UNIDO head Li Yong has repeatedly given positive
assessments of the close cooperation of the international organization and Russia.
The cooperation includes Russia’s support of participation in large-scale
industrialization programs in developing countries in Africa, Asia and Latin
America, which contribute to a positive image in these regions. Besides, Russia
also provides industrial development and maintenance projects in Armenia,
Belarus, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. The signing of a cooperation agreement with
the Eurasian Economic Commission and the provision of platforms for the St.
Petersburg International Forum and GMIS-2019 were also noted by the UNIDO head
as appositive move. In addition, the approaches of Russia and UNIDO to the
solution of the socio-economic problems today are very common. The summit
provides an opportunity to use all the necessary potential of the participating
countries to expand cooperation with each other. The geographical location of
Ekaterinburg on the border of Europe and Asia contributes to the development of
economic relations of European entrepreneurs with partners from China, Japan
and other Asian countries. The examples of the World Cup games in 2018 and the
international industrial exhibition INNOPROM emphasize the availability of
infrastructure facilities in the city for hosting major international events
and accommodate up to 40,000 tourists per day. The organizer of the summit is
preparing an exhibition of 100 startups, which includes the most promising
sectors – the drivers of growth of the world economy and the Fourth Industrial
Revolution. The willingness of international representatives to take part in
the summit testifies their attitude towards Russia as a reliable trade and
economic partner, which fulfills its obligations, despite US attempts to
isolate Russia from the system of international relations.
St. Petersburg International Economic Forum is about to take off in less than two weeks.
The Forum will host more than 120 events, including two plenary sessions, panel sessions, round tables, business breakfasts and TV debates, the Roskongress Foundation, the organizing committee of the forum, reports.
“According to the official website of SPIEF – 2019 there is a business program with speakers and moderators of discussions. The forum will take place on June 6–8, 2019. The main theme is “Forming grounds for sustainable development,” the message says. The program consists of four thematic blocks: “The World Economy in Search of Balance”, “The Russian Economy: Realizing the Goals of National Development”, “Technologies Approaching the Future”, “People are the top priority”.
“The business program of SPIEF-2019 is attended by representatives of the government, public organizations, and leaders of the business community. This year we will talk a lot about economic development and strengthening multilateral mutually beneficial cooperation between countries, including the role of Russia in the international arena, ”said Anton Kobyakov, Adviser to the President of the Russian Federation, Executive Secretary of the SPIEF Organizing Committee.
The Ukrainian Orthodox Church continues a struggle for becoming fully self-governing, or autocephalous, and is seeking the support of the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople.
Yet, Ecumenical Patriarch Dimitri Bartholomew said he was not happy with the failure of Ukraine President Pytro Poroshenko to invite 25 ruling bishops to join a new formation of the Orthodox Church in Ukraine. So far, there is only one Metropolitan Simeon (Shostatsky) of Vinnitsa and Bar who has joined the newly-formed Church structure. According to the Poroshenko’s proposal to Bartholomew, the new Church would unite 43 parishes including 33 parishes of Kiev Patriarchate, 9 parishes of Ukrainian Autocephalous Church and 1 parish of Moscow Patriarchate.
Earlier this year, Bartholomew requested $20 Million from Poroshenko to support his plan for an independent Church. Bartholomew also demanded that a new autocephalous church would operate in accordance with the Fener law that warrants absolute subjection to Constantinople Patriarchate.
Bartholomew also added that the Istanbul-based Patriarchate granted independence status to the Russian Church in the 16th century and then to the Orthodox churches of the Czech Republic and Slovakia in 1998, Istanbul-based Anadolu Agency reported.
However, the deal might not be as good as it seems for Ukraine: after gaining independence Greece will own all 6000 parishes of Kiev Patriarchate leaving Ukrainian Patriarch Filaret empty-handed and with no Russian Orthodox Church support.
