The St. Petersburg International Economic Forum with the support of the Roscongress Foundation held an ‘Honest Dialogue’ roundtable, attended by young professionals and entrepreneurs, students, professors and recent graduates from leading North American universities.
Experts from St. Petersburg State University of Economics and St. Petersburg State University represented the Russian side. The American panellists were Georgetown, Columbia, Yale, Stanford and Princeton university representatives, as well as young entrepreneurs and specialists in finance, technology and innovation, health, e-mobility, construction and real estate. Delegates from the University of Ottawa, Canada also took part in the meeting.
Participants exchanged views on the current state of affairs in Russian-American relations and possible mechanisms for their normalization. The meeting proposed to organize a regular long-distance dialogue on current topics of the Russian-American agenda between students and experts from leading universities in Russia and North America, as well as young professionals and entrepreneurs of both countries. This initiative was noted in the final declaration adopted by the discussion participants. The statement also proposes to include the next Russian-American ‘Honest Dialogue’ roundtable in the programme of the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok.
Following the meeting, the Alumni Association of St. Petersburg State University of Economics, the American student organization ‘Ivy Council’ and the American Public Association ‘Russian-American Cooperation Initiative’ proposed signing a Memorandum of Understanding. The participants discussed options for organizing and holding joint events, as well as creating additional opportunities for students and graduates of leading universities from both countries.
The American non-governmental organization ‘Russian-American Cooperation Initiative’ is the initiator of the meeting. The organization brought a delegation of young entrepreneurs, professionals and students from the USA to participate in SPIEF.
«We are delighted that the rapport built at the Eastern Economic Forum last September and the International Arctic Forum in April gains traction and contributes to a new type of dialogue between the forward-thinking US and Russian youth. All our efforts are focused on the future, and we are confident that the emerging bonds will have a positive impact on the development of bilateral relations mid- and long term,» commented Sergey Gladysh, executive director of the Russian-American Cooperation Initiative.
The Roscongress Foundation is a socially oriented non-financial development institution and a major organizer of nationwide and international conventions; exhibitions; and business, public, youth, sporting, and cultural events. It was established in pursuance of a decision by the President of the Russian Federation.
The Foundation was established in 2007 with the aim of facilitating the development of Russia’s economic potential, promoting its national interests, and strengthening the country’s image. One of the roles of the Foundation is to comprehensively evaluate, analyse, and cover issues on the Russian and global economic agendas. It also offers administrative services, provides promotional support for business projects and attracting investment, helps foster social entrepreneurship and charitable initiatives.
Each year, the Foundation’s events draw participants from 208 countries and territories, with more than 15,000 media representatives working on-site at Roscongress’ various venues. The Foundation benefits from analytical and professional expertise provided by 5,000 people working in Russia and abroad.
The Foundation works alongside various UN departments and other international organizations, and is building multi-format cooperation with 180 economic partners, including industrialists’ and entrepreneurs’ unions, financial, trade, and business associations from 81 countries worldwide, and 186 Russian public organizations, federal and legislative agencies, and federal subjects.
The Roscongress Foundation has Telegram channels in Russian t.me/Roscongress, English – t.me/RoscongressDirect, Spanish – t.me/RoscongressEsp and Arabic t.me/RosCongressArabic. Official website and Information and Analytical System of the Roscongress Foundation:roscongress.org.