Joining him on the panel are President
of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev 
Mirziyoyev ShavkatPresident of the Republic of Uzbekistan , President of the United Republic of Tanzania
Samia Suluhu Hassan, and Vice President of the People’s Republic of China Han
Zheng.
The discussion is moderated by Geeta
Mohan, Foreign Affairs Editor at India Today, TV Today Network.
Held annually since 1997, this year’s
forum runs from 3 to 6 June under the theme “Pragmatic Dialogue: The Path to a Stable Future,” bringing together more than 20,000 participants from 130
countries.
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Moderator of the discussion, India Today Group
Foreign Affairs Editor Geeta Mohan: Namaskar, namaste, zdravstvuite, hello.
Excellencies, distinguished guests and friends, it is a privilege to welcome you to this very important conversation at a time when the world is
clearly standing at an inflection point.
For decades, the global economic order was shaped by a few powerful
capitals, a few dominant institutions, and a few accepted rules of engagement. But
a new global economic order and architecture is emerging: one that is more diverse,
more contested, of course; but also more representative. The countries on the stage reflect that shift. We have Russia – a major power at the centre of today’s geopolitical realignment; China – one of the world’s largest economies,
and a defining force when it comes to AI, trade, and infrastructure. We also
have Uzbekistan representing the rise of central Asia and as a region of energy,
connectivity, and geostrategic opportunity. And then, we have Tanzania – an important African voice led by one of the most significant women leaders of our
time.
And, of course, since the moderator is from India, we can say the stage
also has a little bit of Indian spice, a little bit of balance, and just enough
to keep everyone comfortable.
The question before us is simple but profound: are we witnessing only a redistribution of power, or are we witnessing the birth of a fair world order?
The era of being lectured, pressured, or bullied is seriously being challenged.
At the same time, independence is not easy. Strategic autonomy comes
with costs. So today’s discussion is not merely about geopolitics. It is about the price of sovereignty – something President Putin has emphasised time and time
again.
Can countries protect the national interests without being forced into camps
or being sanctioned? It is about whether a multipolar world will be genuinely
fair or simply replace one centre of power with several competing centres. It
is about whether BRICS and South-South
cooperation can move from rhetoric to real economic instruments. It is about
whether alternative payment systems, new trade corridors, energy partnerships,
and technology cooperation can give the Global South true agency.
And it is about a new world order, where countries no longer want to be
spoken for but want to speak for themselves.
With that, let us begin our conversation today. I would like to begin by inviting President of the Russian Federation honourable
Vladimir Putin for his opening remarks.
President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. Mr Mirziyoyev. Madam Samia Suluhu Hassan. Mr Han Zheng. Ladies and gentlemen.
It is a real pleasure to see such a distinguished audience here. The President of Uzbekistan and I were just
comparing notes. He remarked that the hall is full – which speaks to the level
of interest that the St Petersburg International Economic Forum generates. I would like to welcome all participants and guests.
Russia and St Petersburg are once
again hosting executives from leading companies, business leaders, and experts –
this year from more than 130 countries – all here to expand business contacts
and forge new ties.
Our host has set the bar and outlined the topics, which I will try to cover. But before entering this
auditorium, she also mentioned that, in her opinion, the excellent atmosphere
was created by those who organised the event. So I would like to start by thanking everyone who made this forum possible. Thank you very much.
The unrivalled and appealing nature
of the St Petersburg Forum lies precisely in the opportunity to engage in free
dialogue on matters that are of interest to entrepreneurs, entire industries,
and even entire countries. We remain open to everyone interested in engaging with
our country and is ready to pursue equal and mutually beneficial cooperation.
We are convinced that this particular approach where partners hear one another,
understand their partners’ interests, and identify common solutions represents
a harmonious path of development and makes it possible to respond to the serious
challenges facing the modern-day world.
We are witnessing turmoil in the energy markets and tensions being provoked in certain regions, primarily in the Middle East, and how the short-sighted EU bureaucracy policies are being
implemented to the accompaniment of aggressive rhetoric and leading to Europe
continuing to lose its standing in the global economy, while also undermining
regional and global security. In fact, European elites are inciting chaos and are trying to embroil ever more countries into it.
These processes did not arise all by themselves; they are the result of the world undergoing the largest structural
transformation in decades. This transformation is not a transition from one
phase of a cycle to another. We are witnessing a change in the paradigm of global development.
I would like to bring your attention
to what came before. For decades, the global development model was built around
a limited number of financial centres, technological solutions, insurance and logistics hubs, credit rating agencies, and reserve currencies. This construct
was presented as universal and supposedly suitable for everyone, and, above
all, as supposedly neutral. In reality, however, it was increasingly used as a tool
to exert political pressure and promote unfair competition, where settlements,
technologies, logistics, or even access to information could be cut off at a moment’s notice in order to punish those who chose to act in their own national
interests. In essence, it was a deliberately created system of dependency and resource extraction.
Today, the overwhelming majority of countries see this, as do entrepreneurs, banks, manufacturing companies,
farmers, and transport operators. It has become clear that investment plans and business development steps may face serious risk where the external
infrastructure on which they rely could be used against them. Therefore, countries
are beginning to develop their own technological solutions, create their own
supply routes, and build their own institutions.
To be continued.