In a message to the second Open Dialogue International Forum in Moscow, Putin said the world is undergoing irreversible structural shifts across economics, finance, technology, and demography. He emphasized that countries of the Global South are emerging as new drivers of global development within a more complex multipolar international system.
What follows is the full text of his message, released by the Kremlin:
Friends, ladies and gentlemen,
I would like to welcome the participants and guests of the second Open Dialogue International Forum in Moscow, the capital of Russia. It would be no exaggeration to say that its geography covers the entire planet. Experts, business leaders and academics from 120 countries, including in Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Europe, Australia, North and South America took part in the contest by submitting their essays and creative works.
A powerful and daring concept brought together all these authors and researchers, who are so different in terms of their experience and views. But they all want to articulate a common vision of the future to understand what the world of the future will look like as it enters an era of deep structural shifts.
If what happened in recent years is any guide, global growth patterns are changing in all their aspects, from economics and finance to technology and demography, and these shifts are irreversible. Past approaches and the established norms and principles for doing business and conducting international affairs are gradually becoming irrelevant, which is driven, among other factors, by the actions of Western states. They are losing their leadership and are being replaced by new centers of growth, such as the countries of the Global South.
A more complex, multipolar architecture of international development is taking shape literally on our watch. Countries which understand and appreciate the importance of national sovereignty in politics, economics, culture and social affairs are playing an increasingly prominent role in international affairs. They can trace their own development path based on their own values, resources and priorities, identity and a sovereign worldview.
It is obvious, of course, that no country can develop and prosper in isolation at the expense of other countries or to their detriment. In addition, present-day global challenges require coordinated responses, which means that we must work together to tackle them. Therefore, the global development model can be stable and just only when based on the principles of equality and mutual respect while taking into consideration the interests of all countries.
The Open Dialogue forum contributes to shaping this model. It offers a space for promoting a professional conversation without imposing any points of view or dominating concepts or de facto designating them as the only possible truth. The forum operates as a platform where inspiring and forward-looking ideas start to materialize.
Expert discussions at the forum cover four strategic domains: investment in technological development, trade and logistics, promoting connectivity between countries and nations, and improving the living environment. Of course, investing in human capital, improving demographics and education, as well as modernizing the labor market will all be on the agenda.
I would like to note that just like last year, the business programme of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum in June will follow up on the conclusions resulting from your debates.
Let me emphasize one more time that the Open Dialogue forum focuses on what people need in this new, changing world. This is the key pillar and central topic of its agenda. The entire global development framework must aim to enable any person in any part of the world to have a successful future, be able to choose their own path and to make it a reality, one step at a time.
I am convinced that holding the Open Dialogue forum will help find effective solutions to address many objectives of this kind and promote steady and lasting economic growth while improving the quality of life for people around the world. This will happen in a world that values mutual trust and the commitment to resolving any conflicts through compromise.
I wish you interesting and meaningful discussions and fruitful work.