The changes to the global economy and geopolitics brought about by the first year of the pandemic have had significant implications for development in the Far East and Arctic region, as well as global economic integration with the region – most importantly is the sharp increase in constraints on globalization. International cooperation, trade and investment are now being conducted under different political and economic conditions from when Russia began its turn towards Asia. These changes have had both positive and negative impacts in terms of implementing Russia’s stated policy goals for the region. The scale of continental trade and integration with Eurasia is increasing and digitalization is experiencing a real boom, while on the other hand new non-tariff barriers are being introduced and international mobility has decreased by an order of magnitude. A serious discussion about the practical issues affecting the region’s development is clearly impossible without taking global and regional factors into account. The key advantages of the Far East and Arctic at present are the high levels of integration into established global transport and logistics systems, an openness to the development of new green technologies and the unique investment climate fostered by the Russian government in recent years. The Far East and Arctic are open to prospective partners, and these regions are far from areas of international instability. The aim of the session is to identify the most important new external factors that need to be considered during the current stage of development of the Far East and Arctic region.

Moderator:
Timofei Bordachev — Academic Supervisor, Centre for Comprehensive European and International Studies, National Research University Higher School of Economics

Panellists:
Andrei Bystritskiy — Сhairman of the Board of the Foundation for Development and Support of the Valdai Discussion Club
Glenn Diesen — Professor, University of Southeast Norway (online)
Kevin Michael Rudd — President, Asia Society Policy Institute (ASPI); Prime Minister of Australia (2007–2010, 2013) (online)
Vyacheslav Ruksha — Deputy Director General – Director for the Northern Sea Route Directorate, State Atomic Energy Corporation ROSATOM
Atsushi Sunami — President, Sasakawa Peace Foundation (online)
Yury Trutnev — Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation and Presidential Plenipotentiary Envoy to the Far Eastern Federal District (online)
Alexey Chekunkov — Minister of the Russian Federation for the Development of the Far East and the Arctic (online)

Although new investment projects are under way and a range of traditional industries are undergoing development, there remains a lack of qualified personnel. This is a particularly pressing issue in the Far Eastern Federal District and Arctic. Russia is experiencing an acute shortage of workers in several industries, particularly in construction, resource extraction, and agriculture. It is therefore essential to build a cutting-edge training system which is focused on the needs of individual industries and prospective investment projects. Migrant workers should also be included in the scheme. The issue is that there is currently no adequate analysis and forecasting system in place for the labour market. Such a system would need to factor in all development initiatives, be they at an industry, regional, national, or other level. An effective forecasting and analysis system would provide an understanding of the kind of workers, qualifications and skills needed, both for major individual investment projects and entire industries. What are the steps to building an effective national labour market forecasting system? What needs to be done to make jobs more attractive to local workers? What measures need to be taken to build a personnel training system that is tailored to the needs of major investment projects and specific industries? What can be done to attract highly qualified migrant workers?

Moderator:
Andrey Sharonov — President, Moscow School of Management SKOLKOVO

Panellists:
Anton Kotyakov — Minister of Labour and Social Protection of the Russian Federation
Lilia Ovcharova — Vice Rector of the National Research University Higher School of Economics
Nikita Stasishin — Deputy Minister of Construction, Housing and Utilities of the Russian Federation
Robert Urazov — General Director, Professional Skills Development Agency (WorldSkills Russia)
Irina Yarovaya — Deputy Chairman of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation

Front row participants:
Alexander Bugaev — First Deputy Minister of Enlightenment of the Russian Federation
Artem Levin — General Director, Management Company Kolmar
Dmitry Platygin — General Director, Federal State Budgetary Institution "All-Russian Research Institute of Labor" of the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Russian Federation

Tourism is transforming in Russia and becoming a major sector of the economy that is attractive to a broad range of investors. By developing tourism, we are improving transport accessibility within and between regions, creating stylish and modern urban spaces, and opening the unique nature of our country as well as its cultural and gastronomic diversity to Russians and foreigners. How is the construction of modern hotels setting a new standard of quality? What prospects exist for improving the system of connectivity between the regions and places of interest, including small-scale aviation in tourism and the integration of waterways and railway routes? What are the prospects for the concept that has been prepared to develop cruise tourism in Russia, including cruises in the regions of the Far East, as well as to further expand Arctic routes? How can we safely and fully resume international tourism with a focus on the Asia-Pacific partnership?

Moderator:
Tatiana Remezova — Anchor, Russia Television and Radio (VGTRK)

Panellists:
Rishat Bagautdinov — General Director, Vodokhod
Zarina Doguzova — Head, Russian Federal Agency for Tourism
Andrey Ignatiyev — President, Russian Tourism Union
Lee In-Young — Minister of Unification of the Republic of Korea (online)
Anton Perin — Senior Managing Banker, Real Estate Project Management and Asset Management Unit, VEB.RF
Oleg Khorokhordin — Head of the Altai Republic

Front row participants:
Alexis Delaroff — Chief Operating Officer, Accor Russia, Georgia, Ukraine & the CIS (online)
Alexey Erokhin — Director of the Far Eastern Branch, EY
Sagid Zaremukov — Director, Russian Convention Bureau
Dashi Namdakov — Founder, Fund for the Promotion of Culture and Art named after Dashinima Namdakov
Alexander Osipov — Governor of Trans-Baikal Territory

In today's multipolar world, there are many different processes of gradual and deep integration of individual national economies into the global system of production and trade in goods and services. However, with the development of multi-polar integration processes in the world economy, one can clearly notice the increasing challenges of the dollar-centric financial system that emerged in the second half of the twentieth century. In addition to the fundamental economic disadvantage of the existing financial system for developing countries, there are other problems: the dependence of national monetary systems on external factors, the greater vulnerability to a potential crisis in the US economy, the inability to ensure confidentiality of international payments, the use of the reserve currency and its infrastructure (SWIFT) as a leverage in political issues, as well as unjustified transaction costs. A number of government officials, economists and experts in world trade suggest reconsidering the principles of regulation and ownership of the universal exchange equivalent and exploring the transition from the US national currency as the basis of world trade to fundamentally new supranational money, which would be managed by the widest range of states on the basis of partnership.

Moderator:
Alexey Bobrovsky — Head of the Economic Programme, Russia 24 TV Channel

Panellists:
Alexander Galushka — Vice President of the Civic Chamber of the Russian Federation
Kong Dan — Chairman of the Board, CITIC Reform and Development Research Foundation (online)
Grigory Marchenko — Advisor to the Chairman of the Management Board, Eurasian Development Bank; Governor of the National Bank of the Republic of Kazakhstan (2009–2013) (online)
Alexander Osipov — Governor of Trans-Baikal Territory
Tu Xinquan — Professor, Dean, China Institute for WTO Studies, University of International Business and Economics (UIBE) (online)
Guo Jun — Deputy Secretary-general, Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee; Vice President, China Economic and Social Council (CESC) (online)

The rapid introduction of digital technologies in all walks of life in recent years has led to significant changes in the nature and structure of work, global trade and economic relations. The global transition to a new technological order is revolutionary in nature. Entire industries are dying out, new ones are emerging, and transaction costs are falling sharply in sectors that have undergone digitization. The development of digital technologies and their penetration into all spheres of life – the economy, social sector, culture, education, politics, etc. – is not only changing the order, but is also affecting the functioning and prospects of key institutions, the most important of which is the state, which is now faced with the need to preserve its most important attribute – sovereignty. Should the state protect its digital sovereignty through barriers or new practices? Is joint or coordianted digital sovereignty important for the EAEU? Can public-private partnerships become a tool for protecting digital sovereignty? How can we ensure leadership in the international competition for digital sovereignty?

Moderator:
Andrey Bezrukov — President, Technological Sovereignty Exports Association; Professor, Department of Applied International Analysis, MGIMO University

Panellists:
Igor Drozdov — Chairman of the Board, Skolkovo Foundation
Maxim Parshin — Deputy Minister of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media of the Russian Federation
Tigran Sargsyan — Deputy Chairman of the Board, Eurasian Development Bank
Aleksei Iuzhakov — Chairman of the Board of Directors, Promobot
Artur Yusupov — Head, Chairman of the Board, Moi Bizness Association of Entrepreneurship Development Institutes

It is not just entrepreneurs who are interested in small business development in the Far East –the state shares this concern as well. Small and medium businesses are the lifeblood of the urban economy; they generate added value, bring in tax revenue and create jobs. Developing SMEs is a major step towards achieving many of the region’s socio-economic development goals. However, the development policy of the Far Eastern Federal District and Arctic region often centres around the support and development of major projects – sometimes to the detriment of small business. Analysing the situation in the Far East provides an insight into the unique and most pressing challenges faced by small businesses on a daily basis. Such challenges must be addressed to ensure economic development and foster entrepreneurial spirit in the region. What are the main problems when running a small business in the Far East and how do entrepreneurs see them being resolved? Given the uniqueness of running a small business in the Far East and the peculiarities of developing SMEs in the northern territories and the Arctic, what are some specific solutions to the problems outlined? What is the most effective way of stimulating SME development in cities, and where are the most promising markets located? Could access to the Asia-Pacific Region solve the problem of insufficient demand?

Moderator:
Roman Karmanov — Chief Executive Officer, Presidential Fund for Cultural Initiatives

Panellists:
Gulnaz Kadyrova — Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation
Aysen Nikolaev — Head of Sakha Republic (Yakutia)
Igor Nosov — General Director, Far East and Arctic Development Corporation
Alexey Okhlopkov — First Deputy Governor of Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Area–Yugra
Zelfira Tregulova — General Director, The State Tretyakov Gallery

Front row participants:
Elena Zelentsova — Head of the Department of Territorial Development, Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (RANEPA)
Yulia Klimko — Director, Enso Foundation for Cultural Initiatives

The past year has been a challenge for the oil and gas sector. The petrochemical industry, however, has once again shown its resilience to financial and economic shocks, achieving growth in a number of areas. In view of the growing prominence of the climate agenda, it is forecast that by the 2040s oil and petroleum products will no longer dominate the global energy mix. New niches for petrochemical products will be identified, while companies and nations developing this industry today will be able to diversify their production and provide a reliable source of fuel with a low carbon footprint and high added value. The Far East is home to major hydrocarbon reserves and is close to some of the world’s largest petrochemical markets. In view of the effective state support measures, the region is set to become a platform for the implementation of major projects to support the creation of new industrial clusters and the development of new technologies, including green technologies, in turn attracting foreign investment. What is the prognosis for oil and gas processing present-day projects in the Far East? How can we solve the main issues concerning the industry’s development – infrastructure and technology? What are promising areas for the development of petrochemical clusters? And what is the expected demand in domestic and foreign markets for high value-add products?

Moderator:
Dmitriy Akishin — Director, Gas and Chemicals, VYGON Consulting

Panellists:
Viktor Evtukhov — State Secretary – Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation
Mikhail Karisalov — Chairman of the Management Board, Chief Executive Officer, SIBUR
Vadim Medvedev — Vice President, ESN Group
Pavel Sorokin — Deputy Minister of Energy of the Russian Federation
Mikhail Sutyaginskiy — Chairman of the Board of Directors, Titan Group of Companies

Front row participant:
Anton Drozdov — Deputy Chairman, Promsvyazbank

In the new economy, continuous self-improvement is a key to success, and it is no longer enough for a modern person to possess previously acquired knowledge, as contextual and cross-contextual skills need to be continuously learned, updated and developed. Access to lifelong learning is essential for everyone, but it can be difficult for women in particular given their typical family obligations to find the time and opportunity for lifelong professional development. In an environment where competencies are rapidly renewed, even a minor interruption in work has the consequence of a loss of professional relevance, lack of career progression and reduced pay. The pandemic and self-isolation proved once again that the best way to invest is in one's own growth, and it is women in senior or self-employed positions who have the opportunity to invest the most in their own development. How do we learn to learn for professional development, and how can we make lifelong learning accessible to all? What projects are needed to increase educational opportunities for women?

Moderator:
Maria Afonina — Vice-rector for Educational Activities, "Senezh" Management Workshop

Panellists:
Evgeniya Dolmatova — Founder, School of Ballet and performing arts «Artist»; Ballerina of the Mariinsky Theater and the Bavarian National Ballet
Elena Druzhinina — Deputy Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation (online)
Vera Podguzova — Senior Vice President, Director of External Relations Directorate, Promsvyazbank
Svetlana Fefilova — Deputy General Director, Gazprom-Media Holding
Anna Tsivileva — Chairman of the Board of Directors, Kolmar Group

Front row participants:
Olga Badma-Khalgaeva — President, ANO DO "Academy of the Future ProfessoriUM"
Lyudmila Talabaeva — Member of the Committee of the Council of the Federation of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation for Agrarian and Food Policy and Environmental Management

Russia is one of the world’s three largest gold producers and five largest silver producers by volume. At the same time, significant volumes of raw materials containing precious metals are exported without passing through domestic refineries. The projected depletion of global precious metal reserves, whose value is expected to increase over time, raises questions about the optimal use of the country’s resource potential. Russia’s Ministry of Finance is developing mechanisms to regulate precious metal export volumes and create economic conditions to support refining within the country, including in the Far East. What is gold’s economic role as a defensive asset? What major projects are already being implemented in the industry and which areas could be developed in the near future? What infrastructure is required by domestic companies in order to maintain independence from western industry organizations and associations?

Moderator:
Alexander Markin — Chairman, "Association of Refineries" Non-Profit Partnership

Panellists:
Sergey Zhuravlev — Vice President of Government Relations, Polyus
Yury Zubarev — Head, Federal Assay Chamber (online)
Sergei Kushuba — Chairman, Union of Gold Producers of Russia (online)
Alexei Moiseev — Deputy Finance Minister of the Russian Federation
Alexander Pleshakov — Vice President, Polymetal Management Company
Anatoly Popov — Deputy Chairman of the Executive Board, Sberbank
Tatiana Fic — Director of Public Policy and Central Banking, World Gold Council (online)

Front row participant:
Pavel Volkov — State Secretary, Deputy Minister for the Development of the Russian Far East and the Arctic

Taking into account the on the ground experience of fighting the pandemic, our national healthcare systems must meet the challenge of crisis, as well as institute sustainable cross-border partnerships to develop effective strategies to confront health challenges. Economic cooperation amongst Asia-Pacific countries remains vital as they were the first to be hit by the Coronavirus. The core issue in the transformation of global health today is national health security, not only in terms of strategies to prevent similar disasters from occurring, but also new areas of treatment and therapeutics that ensure high-quality medical care for all citizens remains available. What are the attributes of a sustainable healthcare system that meets the challenges of national security? What international best practices in building sustainable healthcare systems are most relevant to these goals? What steps need to be taken in the near future in order to ensure sustainable cross-border healthcare cooperation and remove barriers to fruitful interaction? Which current trends are influencing the development of medical cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region? How has the experience of the pandemic contributed to healthcare provision reforms in the Far East? What are the prospects for developing healthcare in the Far East given the proximity of Japan, China, Singapore and other countries with advanced medical technologies? How can public and private investment contribute to the development of advanced technologies in the Far East?

Moderator:
Evelina Zakamskaya — Editor-in-Chief, Doctor Channel; Anchor, Russia 24

Panellists:
Melita Vujnovic — Representative to the Russian Federation, Head of Office, World Health Organization Office in the Russian Federation (online)
Kirill Dmitriev — Chief Executive Officer, Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) (online)
Galina Izotova — Deputy Chairman, Accounts Chamber of the Russian Federation
Andrey Kaprin — Director, Federal State Budgetary Institution National Medical Research Radiological Centre of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation (online)
Stanislav Kuznetsov — Deputy Chairman of the Executive Board, Sberbank
Aleksandr Petrov — Head of the Subcommittee on Circulation of Medicines, Development of the Pharmaceutical and Medical Industry, Committee of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation on Health Protection
Veronika Skvortsova — Head, Federal Medical-Biological Agency of the Russian Federation (online)
Guzel Ulumbekova — Head, Higher School of Healthcare Organization and Management
Victor Fisenko — First Deputy Minister of Health of the Russian Federation

We live in one of the most dynamic periods of human history, defined in large part by big data and high speeds conductivity. Technology is changing our lives, providing an unending flow of information. The chief role of the state according to this paradigm is to act as the owner and custodian of spatial data. A national spatial data system is currently being developed in Russia, and is set to become a development tool in Russia’s, increasing the capitalization of the national territory and improving the quality of property transactions. One of the first steps in this direction will be the implementation of a trial single information resource for land and real estate. This will provide citizens, the state and business with access to the most complete information about any given parcel, including information about housing construction and the provision of plots of land, as well as bring unused sites into economic circulation. What executive decisions about land resource allocation are being dictated by new trends? What will a single special data resource for all look like? How can land in the Far East be more effectively managed? What mechanisms and services can be used to increase the availability and quality of housing and infrastructure in the Far East?

Moderator:
Alexey Bobrovsky — Head of the Economic Programme, Russia 24 TV Channel

Panellists:
Vyacheslav Alenkov — Deputy Chairman of the Government of the Sakhalin Region
Fredrik Zetterquist — Chair, Bureau of the Working Party on Land Administration, United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (online)
Sergey Karutin — General Director, Roscartography
Mikhail Kuznetsov — Director, Eastern State Planning Center (FANU Vostokgosplan)
Pavel Lyakhovich — Member of the Management Board, Managing Director, SIBUR LLC
Hartmut Muller — Senior Professor, Department of Geoinformatics and Surveying, Mainz University of Applied Sciences (online)
Anatoly Pechatnikov — Deputy President – Chairman of the Management Board, VTB Bank
Oleg Skufinskiy — Head, The Federal Service for State Registration, Cadastre and Cartography (Rosreestr)
Nikita Stasishin — Deputy Minister of Construction, Housing and Utilities of the Russian Federation
Rumyana Tonchovska — Senior Land Administration Officer-IT, Partnerships, Advocacy and Capacity Development Division, The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations (online)

Front row participants:
Nadezda Kamynina — Rector, Moscow State University of Geodesy and Cartography
Igor Korotetskiy — Partner, Head of Operational Risk and Sustainability, KPMG in the CIS
Alexander Levintal — Managing Director for the Far East, DOM.RF

The new normal is erasing all boundaries and today, anybody with a smartphone can become a broadcaster or an opinion leader. Bloggers are turning into journalisms, and traditional media are scrambling to transition into new media organizations in order to retain their audiences. How will the work of journalists be transformed over the near future? How might the behaviour of subscribers of different generations and their information consumption patterns change? Will the transition to omnichannel and convergence strategies help legacy media?

Moderator:
Anton Serikov — Deputy General Director, Russia - the Country of Opportunities

Panellists:
Irina Akopyan — Instagram Blogger (@irina_mamaclub) (online)
Bogdan Bulychev — YouTube and Instagram Blogger; Author, About Travel Channel (@bogdee)
Irina Karikh — Head, TopBLOG
Lyubov Malyarevskaya — Director General, Russian Mediagroup
Vera Podguzova — Senior Vice President, Director of External Relations Directorate, Promsvyazbank
Svetlana Fefilova — Deputy General Director, Gazprom-Media Holding

The expanse of communities in the Far East has disrupted the existing architectural and spatial models of urban development, and there is a large infrastructure gap and imbalance when it comes to the integrated development of the territories. Large cities are not comfortable places to live and there are significant obstacles when it comes to incorporating new global trends into the existing urban environment. At the same time, current levels of construction in the territories are no longer able to meet the needs of residents.

Moderator:
Valery Limarenko — Governor of Sakhalin Region

Panellists:
Olga Arkhangelskaya — Partner, Head of Real Estate, Hospitality, and Construction Services, Head of the Transportation, Infrastructure and Government, and Public Group in the CIS, EY
Gadzhimagomed Huseynov — First Deputy Minister of the Russian Federation for the Development of the Far East and the Arctic
Sergey Ivanov — President, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Development-South Construction and Investment Company
Vitaly Mutko — Chief Executive Officer, DOM.RF
Sergey Nosov — Governor of Magadan Region
Nikita Stasishin — Deputy Minister of Construction, Housing and Utilities of the Russian Federation

The world is undergoing a large-scale ESG transformation, with social and environmental issues coming to the forefront. The number of countries committed to reaching carbon neutrality is growing. ESG funds investing in responsible businesses are on the rise. This translates into both challenges and opportunities for Russia. The energy transition will cause losses for traditional export-oriented industries. At the same time, it will provide opportunities for new industrialization based on green standards, development of new technologies, and social climate improvement. Will we seize this chance? Is Russia prepared for a global ESG transformation?

Moderator:
Alexander Vedyakhin — First Deputy Chairman of the Executive Board, Sberbank

Panellists:
Herman Gref — Chief Executive Officer, Chairman of the Executive Board, Sberbank (online)
Alexander Dyukov — Chairman of the Management Board, Chief Executive Officer, Gazprom Neft
Maksim Reshetnikov — Minister of Economic Development of the Russian Federation (online)
Stephan Solzhenitsyn — Chief Executive Officer, Siberian Generating Company; Chief Executive Officer, SUEK
Pavel Sorokin — Deputy Minister of Energy of the Russian Federation
Anatoliy Chubais — Special Representative of the President of the Russian Federation for relations with international organizations to achieve sustainable development goals

The success of strategies to reduce growing mortality rates as well as to manage risk factors for human health is directly dependent on the development of advanced medical technologies. With the use of modern diagnostics that contribute to the early detection of clinically asymptomatic medical conditions, help to assess the risks of hereditary and other diseases, and reduce the risk of medical error, and also as a result of the introduction of digital technologies and high-precision equipment into the medical care system, today we can already talk about the onset of the era of precision and preventive medicine. And thanks to health monitoring and the industry of the Internet of medical things, a new culture of health protection is taking shape in society today as a progressive norm of social behaviour. What prospects exist for introducing innovative diagnostic technologies in the Far East and transferring high technologies from Asia-Pacific countries? How can we ensure the introduction of digital technologies, artificial intelligence, and technologies to work with big data into the medical care system in the Far East and make high-tech medicine accessible? What are the Far East’s prospects in terms of creating a regional system of oncological care? How will the development of telemedicine affect the quality of healthcare in the Far East? What infrastructure is needed for the full-scale digitalization of healthcare in the Far East?

Moderator:
Evelina Zakamskaya — Editor-in-Chief, Doctor Channel; Anchor, Russia 24

Panellists:
Timur Akhmerov — General Director, BARS Group
Pierre Morgon — Senior Vice President International Business, CanSio Biologics (online)
Sergei Sidorov — Chairman of the Board of Directors, Medscan
Victor Fisenko — First Deputy Minister of Health of the Russian Federation
Alexander Khasin — Chairman of the Board of Directors, Centre for Development of Nuclear Medicine of Ulan-Ude
Irina Yarovaya — Deputy Chairman of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation

Front row participants:
Andrey Bogdanov — Director of Far Eastern Branch, Insurance House VSK
Kirill Kaem — Senior Vice-President for Innovations, Skolkovo Foundation
Boris Polyaev — Head of the Department of Medical Rehabilitation No. 2, Federal State Budgetary Institution «FCMN» FMBA of Russia
Oleg Teplov — Chief Executive Officer, VEB Ventures
Andrey Shuvalov — Managing Partner, Medicare

Advanced knowledge and high technologies set the agenda when it comes to the development of our modern, connected world. Experience shows that scientific and technological potential is directly proportional to levels of economic development. The most important task for states aiming to achieve a leading position in the global innovation space is the use of intellectual resources and the development of a technology and information base. Science is becoming a key factor in social development, and an awareness of this fact is encouraging countries aiming for technology leadership to attract scientists and experts from other countries and actively build ties with international scientific and educational institutions. The development of science cooperation between states, whether national, regional or at the level of individual organizations, teams and researchers is coming to be determined by the very logic of human development. Integration is a key feature of international scientific and technological cooperation today, providing maximum economic and sociocultural benefits, which would be impossible to achieve if states were to rely purely on their own capabilities. What are the projects linking Europe and Asia? How can Russia’s Far East be integrated into a single scientific and technological Asia-Pacific space? How can we maximize the impact of our joint efforts? What digital, transport and energy technologies should be developed? Will we be able to identify new areas of common interest in the near future?

Moderator:
Maxim Safonov — Director, Green Capital Alliance; Professor, Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (RANEPA)

Panellists:
Andrey Klepach — Chief Economist, VEB.RF (online)
Maxim Protasov — Head, Russian Quality System (Roskachestvo)
Dmitriy Pumpyanskiy — Chairman of the Board of Directors, Tube Metallurgical Company (TMK); President, Sinara Group
Alexander Sergeev — President, Russian Academy of Sciences

Front row participants:
Mikhail Grudinin — Head, Centre for Development of the Republic of Altai
Aleksey Kaplun — Chief Executive Officer, H2 Clean Energy
Vladimir Nelyub — Director, Center for National Technology Initiative, Bauman Moscow State Technical University
Ruslan Novikov — General Director, Argumenty I Facty

The COVID-19 pandemic is the first major biosecurity challenge of its type in human history. Rapidly engulfing virtually every country in the world, the pandemic revealed, in many cases, a lack of preparedness to respond swiftly to such threats. It has created a “new normal” and has provided an impetus for states to build their capacity to combat pandemics and conduct extensive scientific research. In order to combat new threats, new approaches to future biological challenges must be developed at national, regional and global levels. Based on its long-standing experience in infection prevention and control, Russia has begun to develop a so-called “sanitary shield” - a modern, pro-active system for forecasting, early detection and response to pandemics. Significant reforms to pandemic response systems are being made globally and regionally, including in APAC. What new elements must be part of a global and regional strategy to combat pandemics? Can new genetic, digital, and communication technologies help avoid new pandemics, and what are the social, economic and technological determinants of pandemic risk in Asia and the Pacific? What will ensure pandemic preparedness and response in Asia and the Pacific, and can a regional health shield be put in place? Has the role and involvement of business changed in the fight against pandemics?

Moderator:
Alexey Bobrovsky — Head of the Economic Programme, Russia 24 TV Channel

Panellists:
Sergey Balakhonov — Director, Irkutsk Research Anti-Plague Institute of Siberia and the Far East
Zarina Doguzova — Head, Russian Federal Agency for Tourism
Shao Yiming — Director of Virology and Immunology Division, National Center for AIDS/STD Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (online)
Oleg Matytsin — Minister of Sport of the Russian Federation
Dorit Nitzan — Regional Emergency Director for the European Region, Health Emergencies Programme, World Health Organization (online)
Anna Popova — Head of the Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing - Chief State Sanitary Physician of the Russian Federation
Dang Hong Trien — Co-Director General, Joint Russian-Vietnamese Tropical Research and Technological Center (online)

Front row participants:
Lilia Ovcharova — Vice Rector of the National Research University Higher School of Economics
Mikhail Shchelkanov — Director, Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology named after G.P. Somov

A modern approach to climate problems requires a new societal culture and inter-industry cooperation. Fostering an ecological norm in society is a task that needs to be addressed by combining the competences of the regions, large industrial enterprises and creative industries. Extended producer responsibility mechanisms, which were established in connection with the transition from a linear economy to a circular economy, are now in place in Russia. Pilot projects to achieve carbon neutrality are being launched in the regions and large industrial enterprises are approving programmes aimed at reducing their environmental footprints. Representatives of the creative industries offer their views on the creation of a mass culture of green consumption. What is being done at different levels to preserve the environment? How does "trash" reform affect companies and people's lives in general? How can the music industry draw the attention of the general public to environmental issues in our country? What can each of us do today and how can we get more people involved in environmental programmes?

Moderator:
Dmitry Mednikov — Managing Director, Russian Media Group

Panellists:
Marina Balabanova — Vice President for Corporate Affairs in Russia and the CIS, PepsiCo
Vyacheslav Butusov — Rock Musician, Writer, Honored Artist of the Russian Federation
Denis Butsayev — General Director, Russian Environmental Operator Public Law Company
Roman Karmanov — Chief Executive Officer, Presidential Fund for Cultural Initiatives
Aleksey Kozlov — Member of the Management Board, Managing Director, SIBUR
Julia Morozova — General Director, Creative Production

According to Art Market Report, the Chinese market is now the third-largest after the US and Britain. Russia's geographical location gives the country the opportunity to spread its sphere of influence in the art industry in both European and Asian markets. At the same time, the contemporary Russian art industry is virtually absent from the global market and its international reach is mainly concentrated in the Europe. What is the role of culture in establishing cooperation between Russia and Asia-Pacific countries, and what are the prospects for deepening cooperation in the arts sector? What kind of infrastructure is needed to strengthen strategic?

Moderator:
Elena Zelentsova — Head of the Department of Territorial Development, Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (RANEPA)

Panellists:
Ilya Butusov — Chairman, Primorsky Branch of the Union of Artists of Russia
Vera Glazkova — Director, Gallery «Arka»
Yulia Klimko — Director, Enso Foundation for Cultural Initiatives
Sheyvin S'ng — Founder, Vin Gallery (online)
Zelfira Tregulova — General Director, The State Tretyakov Gallery
Corey Andrew Bar — Director, Art Central Hong Kong (online)

International events have long been a tool at the disposal of public policymakers. Participating in these events is a core responsibility of politicians, businesspeople and experts around the world. According to the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA), global market volumes for international business events stand at USD 1 trillion. The restrictions imposed around the world as a result of the pandemic have triggered a search for new ways of holding events. How effective are these new formats? What actual impact are they having on national economies and politics? What will international events look like in the future?

Moderator:
Roman Chukov — Chairman of the Board, Russian Center for the Promotion of International Initiatives; Assistant to Youth Policy Director, Roscongress Foundation

Panellists:
Sagid Zaremukov — Director, Russian Convention Bureau
Gracia Paramitha — Co-Founder, Indonesian Youth Diplomacy
Dmitry Stolkov — Deputy Chief for Special Commissions, Chancellery of the President of the Russian Federation
Alexander Stuglev — Chief Executive Officer, The Roscongress Foundation
Georgy Toloraya — Member of Committee established pursuant to resolution 1718 Panel of Experts, UN Security Council

Front row participant:
Evgeny Primakov — Head, Federal Agency for the Commonwealth of Independent States Affairs, Compatriots Living Abroad, and International Humanitarian Cooperation (Rossotrudnichestvo)