Spitsbergen is a unique archipelago that lies beyond the Arctic Circle at the entrance to the Arctic Ocean, just 900 kilometres from the North Pole. It is a place where transport routes, ocean currents, different peoples, and various types of lush northern fauna all intersect. Since ancient times, people have hunted for whale meat and walrus tusks here. In the 20th century, it was home to coal mining, but now a new era has arrived, as tourism and science are becoming the most important focuses on the islands. The territory’s international status ensures equal access for all countries that are parties to the treaty on economic and scientific activities on Spitsbergen. Russia has maintained a presence on Spitsbergen since the 16th century, when Russian Pomors, or seasiders, set up regular trading posts. At present, the Russian villages of Pyramiden, Barentsburg, and Grumant are among the island’s tourism pearls and provide basic infrastructure for scientific activities. The region’s uniqueness, international status, as well as the keen interest of all countries in Arctic research offer opportunities to develop an international scientific centre here. What would be the priority focuses of an international scientific centre on the archipelago? How can it attract international partners? What opportunities would a scientific centre in the BRICS space provide? What material resources would be required? What kind of specialists would need to be trained to develop science on Spitsbergen?

Moderator:
Maria Nikishova — Head of Sustainable Development, Eastern State Planning Center (FANU Vostokgosplan)

Speakers:
Leonid Agafonov — Member, Public Council Under the Ministry for the Development of the Russian Far East; Managing Director, EastRussia
Anurag Bisen — Senior Fellow, Vivekananda International Foundation
Jawahar Bhagwat — Associate Professor of the Department of Regional Studies, International Relations and Political Science, Higher School of Social Sciences and Humanities and International Communication, Northern (Arctic) Federal University named after M.V. Lomonosov (online)
Alexander Konoplin — Director, Institute of Marine Technology Problems, Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences
Ildar Neverov — General Director, State Trust Arktikugol
Yuri Ugryumov — Deputy Director for Expeditionary Work, Head of the Russian Scientific Arctic Expedition on the Spitsbergen Archipelago, Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute (AARI)

Front row participant:
Vyacheslav Seleznev — Director of the Polytechnic Institute, Far Eastern Federal University

The cooperation format proposed by Russian Prime Minister Yevgeny Primakov in 1998 involving the largest countries of Eurasia (Russia–India–China) would go on to become a key element of the system of international relations and laid the foundations for the formation of BRICS and a number of other international institutions. The geopolitical, geo-economic, resource, technological, and logistics potential of the RIC countries means that they play leading roles in the global economic system. The successful development of the economies of Russia, India, and China in many ways depends on deepening interaction between the three countries in a trilateral format, including the search for synergy and balancing national interests. The entire global economic system is transforming, and new challenges are emerging. And the range of promising areas of cooperation is expanding as a result: the need to develop a system of guaranteed supplies of raw materials and finished products in the context of the sanctions policies is transformed for the RIC countries into the need to create regional Eurasian markets for goods, services, capital, and labour, which, in turn, requires the development of new transport corridors that “sew” the RIC countries and the Greater Eurasian space together; and the growth or international financial instability creates the need to reduce dependence on the U.S. dollar in international settlements and develop joint solutions for regional payment systems within RIC and BRICS. The development of multilateral formats of interaction between RIC and BRICS holds significant potential for all of the countries involved and requires active discussion. How will the RIC format develop in the context of the expansion of the BRICS association and the further movement of the global economy towards multipolarity? How are competitive and cooperative practices balanced out in the process of Russia building trade and investment cooperation with China and India? How is energy cooperation developing between the three countries? What new opportunities for realizing the economic potential of Russia, India, and China will emerge as transport and logistics corridors in the Eurasian region continue to develop? What are the prospects for building a system of international settlements based on national currencies within the BRICS framework given the policies adopted by the countries towards de-dollarization? What new areas of cooperation between Russia, India, and China in science and education are emerging in the context of common energy, technological, and economic challenges?

Moderator:
Igor Maksimtsev — Rector, Saint Petersburg State University of Economics

Speakers:
Sergey Andryushin — Vice Rector for International Affairs, St. Petersburg State University
Dmitry Bakanov — Deputy Minister of Transport of the Russian Federation
Vladimir Zhuikov — Executive Director, Investment Department, Russian Direct Investment Fund
Srikanth Kondapalli — Dean of School of International Studies; Professor of China Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University (online)
Sergey Mikhnevich — Executive Secretary, Member of the Presidium, EAEU Business Council; Managing Director for International Multilateral Cooperation and Integration, Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (RSPP)
Stanislav Tkachenko — Expert, Valdai International Discussion Club
Juan Yunsong — Professor, Associate Dean, School of International Studies, Sichuan University (online)

Front row participants:
Evgeniy Griva — Deputy Trade Representative of the Russian Federation in the Republic of India (online)
Congqi Ming — President, Honey Badger Chongqing Special Vehicle Equipment
Tatyana Terentyeva — Rector, Vladivostok State University
Guangjian Zhang — Executive Chairman, Guangdong Provincial Association for Promotion of Trade with Russia

Training human resources is an essential condition for the sustainable development of the Far East. New projects require new approaches, including in public administration. The Muravyov-Amursky 2030 programme is not just an opportunity for career growth, but a full-fledged educational platform that can be used to train young professional managers. Their primary goal is to work for the benefit of the Far East and Russia. Many of the programme’s graduates have moved to the Far East with their families from other regions of the country and already become integrated into regional, municipal, and federal government bodies. They work to develop the economy, infrastructure, construction, manufacturing, the social sector, and education. By completing the programme and building a career in the civil service, the graduates have gained personal experience in mentoring, project work, and adaptation in the workplace. What tools does the programme offer? How are graduates realizing their potential? What challenges do they face?

Moderator:
Mikhail Kuznetsov — Director, Eastern State Planning Center (FANU Vostokgosplan)

Speakers:
Aleksandra Lebedeva — Deputy Chairman of the Government of the Kamchatka Territory
Anna Tarasenko — Deputy Chairman of the Government of the Jewish Autonomous Region
Alexey Chekunkov — Minister of the Russian Federation for the Development of the Far East and the Arctic
Vera Shcherbina — First Vice-Governor – Chairman of the Government of the Primorsky Territory
Anton Yaremchuk — Deputy Governor of the Chukotka Autonomous Okrug

Front row participants:
Ayan Gavrilev — Graduate of the Muravyov-Amursky 2030 Program
Timur Gomboev — Head of the Administration Department of the Head of the Republic of Buryatia; Graduate of the Muravyov-Amursky 2030 Program
Maria Zaychenko — Graduate of the Muravyov-Amursky 2030 Program
Mariya Karpova — Graduate of the Muravyov-Amursky 2030 Program
Alexander Leonov — Graduate of the Muravyov-Amursky 2030 Program
Daria Tatarchenko — Graduate of the Muravyov-Amursky 2030 Program

An in-depth discussion needs to be held about certain key issues concerning international commercial arbitration, taking into account the experience of arbitration institutions in Russia, China, India, Singapore, and other Asia-Pacific countries, as well as expanded cooperation in such matters. What are the main focuses in the drafting of legislation on international commercial arbitration in Asia-Pacific countries? How is foreign law and language being applied to resolve international commercial disputes? What are some of the specific aspects of dispute resolution concerning merchant shipping? How can we apply digital technologies to resolve foreign economic disputes? What are the best practices for enforcing the decisions of international commercial arbitrations in the territories of Asia-Pacific countries?

Moderator:
Sergey Katyrin — President, Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation

Speakers:
Anna Arkhipova — Deputy Chairman, Maritime Arbitration Commission at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation (video message)
Hemant Gupta — Chairman, Indian International Arbitration Center (video message)
Alexey Kostin — Chairman, The International Commercial Arbitration Court at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation (video message)
Igor Krasnov — Chief Lawyer, Head of the Legal Unit, VEB.RF
Prashant Kumar — President, The Bar Association of India (online)
Dmitriy Podshibyakin — Director, Arbitration and Mediation Center of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation
Natalia Prisekina — Executive Secretary, Branch of the International Commercial Arbitration Court at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation in Vladivostok
Cunyuan Zhang — Head (China), Singapore International Arbitration Centre

The key goal of the Far East’s demographic policy is to create conditions for a sustainable increase in the birth rate. To this end, the macro-region is implementing special measures to support families with children: the Far East demographic package and the Far East mortgage programme. Since 2023, the Primorsky Territory has been implementing a pilot project to increase payments to RUB 1 million to pay off mortgage obligations for the birth of a third or subsequent child. In 2024, based on instructions from the Russian president, this project was extended to seven other Far Eastern regions with low birth rates. What system of measures to support the birth rate is needed at the new stage of the country’s demographic policy in the Far East? What support measures are most relevant and in demand among families with children today? How can the effectiveness of demographic measures in the region be increased? What modern social innovative technologies could be used to scale up measures in the Far East? What measures for the demographic development of the Far East will be included in the Family national project?

Moderator:
Sergey Rybalchenko — Chairman of the Commission on Demography, Protection of Family, Children and Traditional Family Values, Public Chamber of the Russian Federation; General Director, Scientific and Public Expert Evaluation Institute

Speakers:
Konstantin Abramov — General Director, All-Russian Public Opinion Research Center Foundation (VTsIOM); Chairman, Public Council under the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Russian Federation
Olga Batalina — First Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Protection of the Russian Federation
Svetlana Krasitskaya — Minister of Labor and Social Policy of Primorsky Krai
Elvira Nurgalieva — Deputy Minister of the Russian Federation for the Development of the Far East and the Arctic
Lilia Ovcharova — Vice Rector, National Research University Higher School of Economics
Nina Ostanina — Chairman of the Committee of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation on Family Protection, Issues of Paternity, Motherhood and Childhood
Vladimir Yuschuk — Deputy Chairman of the Government of the Sakhalin Region

Front row participants:
Svetlana Leontieva — Deputy Chairman of the Government of the Amur Region, Minister of Health of the Amur Region
Eugenia Ludupova — Minister of Health of the Republic of Buryatia

Within the fundamental restructuring of the entire system of international relations, one centre of the new multipolar world that is taking shape is the Greater Eurasia. The interests of all the biggest global players, the main share of the growth of the world economy are concentrated here; this is where the key transport routes pass, significant natural resources, over 70% of the world’s population, and unique cultural legacy and the most ancient civilisations are concentrated. All this gives Eurasia tremendous competitive advantages. For decades, the West preached the main geopolitical doctrine for itself: ‘whoever holds Eurasia, holds the world’. Eurasia always remained for them exclusively a means for management and consumption. For Russia, the Eurasian aspect of its ethno-cultural existence was always profoundly restricted. Our country is striving to transform Eurasia into a unified general continental space in the world, a space of stability, mutual trust, development and flourishing, as is reflected in the updated Foreign Policy Concept. Is formation of Greater Eurasia an irreversible historical process? What is Russia’s place in the new organisational model of the given geo-economic space? What is Eurasia and who is a Eurasian? Will Greater Eurasia Partnership (GEP) become a non-discriminatory alternative to the western relations models? What is the role of the EAEU, SCO and ASEAN in the international dynamics of the region and what can be said about their potentials? When will countries of the West be ready to join in building a unified collaboration space in Eurasia?

Moderator:
Robert Frantsev — Head of the Central Asian Bureau, All-Russia State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company; Host, "In the Center of Asia"

Speakers:
Gohar Barseghyan — Member of the Board (Minister) for Industry and Agro-Industrial Complex, Eurasian Economic Commission
Dmitry Volvach — Deputy Minister of Economic Development of the Russian Federation (online)
Maria Zakharova — Director, Department of Information and the Press, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation
Leonid Kalashnikov — Chairman of the Committee of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation for the Commonwealth of Independent States, Eurasian Integration and Relations with Compatriots
Yu Miaojie — Rector, Liaoning University

Front row participant:
Vittoriya Idrisova — Rector, Russian Foreign Trade Academy

Russia created unique preferential regimes in the Kuril Islands in 2022. Since then, the 24 companies that have become residents of these regimes have invested over RUB 5 billion and created more than 400 jobs. Three companies have implemented projects, including a surfing camp, glamping site, and a hotel. Tourism and fish processing are the main business activities on the Kuril Islands. There are around 20 hotels on the islands (Iturup Island, Kunashir, and Shikotan), which received more than 50,000 tourists in 2023. Ecological and cruise tourism are among the most promising areas for further development. To attract new investors to the Kuril Islands, there are two preferential regimes (the Kurils Advanced Special Economic Zone and the Kuril Islands of the Russian Federation), but they need to be improved by lifting restrictions in the Russian Tax Code and expanding the boundaries of the former. How can we increase the investment appeal of the Kuril Islands? What needs to be done at the legislative level to achieve this? What is the best way to attract foreign investors in the current conditions?

Moderator:
Bogdan Bulychev — Traveler, Blogger

Speakers:
Igor Bukharov — President, Federation of Restaurateurs & Hoteliers of Russia; Dean of the Faculty of Hospitality, Institute of Industry Management, Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (RANEPA)
Herman Vasyukhnik — General Director, Utari
Kirill Kamenev — Deputy General Director for Investment Attraction, Far East and Arctic Development Corporation
Janna Kira — President, Glamping Support Association
Denis Kravchenko — Deputy Chairman of the Committee of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation on Economic Policy
Nataliya Pakholkova — First Deputy Minister of Tourism of the Sakhalin Region

The process of sovereignization and the establishment of borders in the digital space is a key issue on the agenda of every single country around the world. At the same time, the issue of ensuring the digital sovereignty of individuals and citizens requires special attention in the context of the rapid development of artificial intelligence, adaptive technologies, and the personalization of online content. Data is the “new gold”. More than that, data drives the course and pace of the development of new technologies – from training generative networks to the emergence of deepfakes. The issue is even more relevant when it comes to the processing and protection of personal data. The digital sovereignty of the individual is ensured by legal mechanisms that allow the person to independently determine and control the dissemination of their personal information and data, as well as to filter and configure the confidentiality of incoming and outcoming information flows. It is important to understand that the digital sovereignty of a citizen is impossible if the state does not take proper measures to ensure a reliable digital infrastructure and safeguard citizens from digital threats, which together should act as a guarantor of the right of citizens to self-determination in the digital space. What does digital sovereignty of the individual entail? What are the state’s priority tasks when it comes to ensuring the digital sovereignty of citizens? How can a balance be found between ensuring personal data protection and national security? What can we do to encourage market participants to pursue a policy that would actively protect the digital sovereignty of individuals?

Moderator:
Elina Sidorenko — General Director, White Internet; Director of the Center for Digital Economy and Financial Innovation, Professor, MGIMO University; Member of the Council under the President of the Russian Federation for the Development of Civil Society and Human Rights

Speakers:
Maria Zakharova — Director, Department of Information and the Press, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation
Sergey Lebed — Vice President of Cyber Security, Sberbank
Dmitriy Miklukho — Senior Vice President, Director of the Department of Information Security, Promsvyazbank
Sergey Plugotarenko — General Director, Digital Economy
Vladislav Povolotsky — General Director, Center for Biometric Technologies
Danil Filippov — Deputy Head of the Investigation Department, Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation

To ensure the proper spatial development of the Far East, it is crucial to not only understand the bottlenecks of the regional economy, but also the needs of its people. This includes both consumers and businesses that are ready to meet and correctly guide consumer demand. The tourism industry, which has the highest economic multiplier, is one the main sectors that can help plan the proper spatial development of the regions of the Far East and influence the country’s economy as a whole. And big data and modern media are the main tools for this. Big data can ensure proper interaction among all the parties involved in this process: consumers, businesses, media, and the regional economy. Properly structured data exchanges make it possible to quickly and effectively determine the capabilities of regions and regulate tourist flows, prices, and consumer needs. Regions with well-developed tourism infrastructure that are able to cleverly work with big data receive a powerful economic boost that is sufficient to increase the investment appeal of the regions and even improve their demographic and migration numbers. How can we use big data and the capabilities of new media to plan the construction of new infrastructure, calculate and stimulate economic growth, and, ultimately, create a modern model of the travel and recreation industry? Should we build a marketing strategy and an attractive domestic tourism brand?

Moderator:
Alexey Bobrovsky — Economic Observer

Speakers:
Egor Bespyatov — Director, Yakov and Partners
Elena Veselova — Director of Development and Strategic Partnerships, Carlton Hotel
Ayan Gavrilev — Head of Development of Unmanned Aerial Systems, Center for Industrial Development of Primorsky Krai; Graduate of the Muravyov-Amursky 2030 Program
Dmitry Mednikov — Managing Director, Russian Media Group
Yuliya Morozova — Deputy Chairman, Government of Kamchatskiy Krai

In the current politico-economic situation, Russian exports are being reorientated toward BRICS countries and this trend is set to continue. For safe entry by Russian exporters onto foreign markets and long-term operation, goods and technology exporters’ intellectual property needs protection. The main holders of foreign patents to innovative technology in BRICS countries today are China, the USA, Japan, Korea and Germany. The lack of protection of exported Russian goods and technology risks their use being banned on the given territories. The Russian President has set the main tracks: by 2030, the volume of non-resource non-energy exports (NRE) from Russia must rise by at least 2/3 over 2023, and Russia must join the Top-10 global leaders in the volume of scientific research and development. How can the current risks be overcome in the IP sphere and exporters be protected? How much is the investment appeal of a project boosted by foreign patents to technologies and trademarks? What measures to create special mechanisms should be supported by the BRICS countries?

Moderator:
Dmitry Orlov — Advisor to the Director, Investment Promotion Fund "RK-Investments"

Speakers:
Vladimir Avdeenko — Deputy Executive Director – Director of Agrobiotechnologies, Innopraktika
Alexander Zainigabdinov — Head of the Beijing office of China Window Consulting Group, arbitrator of the Shanghai International Arbitration Center
Igor Krasnov — Chief Lawyer, Head of the Legal Unit, VEB.RF
Igor Maksimtsev — Rector, Saint Petersburg State University of Economics
Elena Myakotnikova — Member of the Executive Committee, Director of Sustainable Development, RUSAL

Moderator:
Mikhail Makarov — Director of the International Relations Office, Agency for Strategic Initiatives to Promote New Projects

Scuba diving is a major industry that affects such sectors as sports, tourism, hydroelectric engineering, scientific research, military and patriotic education, rehabilitation activities, ecology, and environmental protection. The creation of a powerful brand-new underwater federation will give a significant boost to the development of all of these sectors. Russia is a country with an enormous coastline, and the development of amateur scuba diving could directly enhance the country’s defence capabilities. What exactly is needed to create a strong underwater federation? Why is it crucial to make diving more popular among children? How could the development of scuba diving help increase the country’s defence capabilities? What is needed to develop tourist diving in Russia’s coastal regions? Why is it so important to revive underwater sports?

Moderator:
Olga Derzheruk — Development Director, Primorsky Center for Underwater Research

Speakers:
Yuri Belsky — Director and Founder, National Dive League
Igor Bespalov — Member of the Public Chamber of the Primorsky Territory; Chairman of the Commission on Human Development
Olga Dimitrevich — Project Manager, “International Ice Games”
Yan Ershov — Project Manager, National Dive League
Arseny Krepsky — First Deputy Minister of Tourism of the Primorsky Krai
Evgenia Makeeva — Development Director, Regional Center for Audit and Consulting
Evgeniy Polukhin — Director, Primorsky Underwater Research Center
Roman Yukin — Winner of the International Ice Orienteering Competition 2024