Moscow to host International Cooperation Forum in autumn 2025

The interdepartmental working group preparing events in celebration of the centenary of public diplomacy in 2025–2026 met in Moscow. The working group was formed in accordance with the Concept of Foreign Policy of the Russian Federation approved by the President of the Russian Federation on 31 March 2023 for the purpose of organizing events in Russia and abroad to mark the centenary of the All-Union Society for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries (now Rossotrudnichestvo, established in 2008). The event was attended by representatives of the ministries, agencies, and universities involved in preparing the events and representatives of the Roscongress Foundation, which is managing the events.

“It is more important now than ever that we use public diplomacy as a mechanism for promoting cultural and educational cooperation abroad, strengthening Russia’s circle of friends and building upon it, and disseminating objective information about our country and its rich history, culture, economic, and spiritual potential. The International Cooperation Forum scheduled to take place in Moscow this autumn will include foreign guests and graduates of Soviet and Russian universities and will serve as a highlight in the celebrations marking the centenary of the All-Union Society for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries and a landmark event in the history of our country,” Adviser to the Russian President and Head of the Interdepartmental Working Group preparing events in celebration of the centenary of public diplomacy in 2025–2026 Anton Kobyakov said.

During the meeting, the working group paid special attention to the International Cooperation Forum programme, which will have the 100th anniversary of public diplomacy, the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War, the global struggle against neo-colonialism and neo-fascism, and the promotion of traditional Russian spiritual and moral values as central topics. The draft business programme for the event includes a grand opening ceremony, a plenary session entitled ‘Building a Fairer New World’, thematic session on ‘The 80th Anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War’, roundtables on ‘The Global Struggle Against Neocolonialism and Neo-Fascism’ and ‘The Promotion of Traditional Spiritual and Moral Values: Preserving Russian Culture’, and other events. The Forum will wrap up with the adoption of a resolution reflecting the conclusions reached during the thematic sessions.

“100 years is important in the history of public diplomacy. Rossotrudnichestvo supports the implementation of the action plan for 2025–2026. I believe that the International Cooperation Forum can be an event of great consequence because public diplomacy is essential to international relations and of particular importance today,” Head of Rossotrudnichestvo Yevgeny Primakov said. He also spoke of plans to mark the centenary of public diplomacy with commemorative coins and stamps, a themed train in the Moscow metro, a photo exhibition, and a special edition of the magazine Russky Mir.

The working group discussed the creation of a master plan of events for 2025–2026 to celebrate the centenary of public diplomacy that would include events in Russia and abroad involving public figures and the media, roundtables and cultural campaigns encompassing film, print, exhibitions, and much more.

“As official international diplomacy experiences a crisis and many countries resort to sanctions and megaphone diplomacy, public diplomacy gains especial importance. The Soviet Union knew how to act when its opponents sought to isolate it, engaging in dialogue with cultural and scientific circles across the globe, and so it makes sense to follow its example now. Russia’s potential to wield soft power is great and has clearly been neglected. In this respect, the International Cooperation Forum is a step in the right direction. It is the job of all the organizations and government agencies represented here to turn this event into a shared success,” Deputy Speaker of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation Konstantin Kosachev said.

 Rector of the Moscow State Institute of International Relations Anatoly Torkunov spoke about gathering participants for the upcoming Forum from as wide a field as possible. “We need to invite representatives of the international scientific community to the event, and not only scientists from friendly countries with whom we are already working, but also those in unfriendly states that understand us. We mustn’t exclude them because I think some may use the Forum as an opportunity to restore ties with scientific and public organizations in Russia that have been interrupted in recent years,” he said.

Adviser to the Russian President and Head of the Interdepartmental Working Group preparing events in celebration of the centenary of public diplomacy in 2025–2026 Anton Kobyakov spoke in particular about the youth track in the context of preparations for the Public Diplomacy Forum, mentioning the permanent network of young leaders from the world’s leading countries created following the 2017 World Festival of Youth and Students in Sochi, the Friends for Leadership Global Leadership and Entrepreneurship Network, whose members hail from more than 100 countries.

More details will be announced about preparations for the events to celebrate the centenary of public diplomacy in 2025–2026 following future meetings of the working group.