Valdai Club

On October 14, the Valdai Discussion Club met with Sylvie-Agnès Bermann, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the French Republic to the Russian Federation.

On October 11, the Valdai Discussion Club hosted an expert discussion on the political and economic situation in Argentina on the eve of a general election.

On October 10, the Valdai Discussion Club hosted an expert discussion on the UN’s role in conflict resolution.

On October 3, Valdai Discussion Club held its Plenary Session.

The nineth session of the Valdai Club's 16th Annual Meeting was dedicated to the topic: "Breaking New Ground in the World Economy: Asia as a Driver of Growth or Space for Confrontation?"

Asia has been the main beneficiary of globalization having achieved impressive economic successes. As the global economic model is changing, the issue of how the future interaction will work is arising. Will the 21st-century neomercantilism prevail? Will regional economic systems emerge? Or will the period of turmoil be followed by revival of more or less universal rules? What role will the huge and vibrant Asia play in that?  

The eighth session of the Valdai Club's 16th Annual Meeting was dedicated to the topic: "War for the Future: How Technology Has Become the Subject of Confrontation".

Many experts note that the world has already entered the era of technological wars. The battle has just  begun is not for leadership, but for domination in the field of artificial intelligence, digital economy, new technologies, and it promises to be fierce. The nature of competition is difficult to predict - the technological and communication interdependence is deep and comprehensive, but the restrictive measures are becoming more sophisticated. The rivals are opposing each other, but at the same time they need to interact with competitors. How to ensure the technological development of the country in such a situation? Is partnership with other states possible in such conditions? Is it possible to expect that the world will be divided into opposing technological blocs, as it happened in the second half of the 20th century?

The seventh session of the Valdai Club's 16th Annual Meeting was dedicated to the topic: "The Resettlement of Peoples: How Migration Is Changing the World".

Mass migrations are а distinguishing feature of the 21st century. Serious population shifts are once again taking place in the world. The reasons are manifold: they include social and economic crises in many states, military conflicts, climatic changes and the mere lack of life opportunities in these people’s home countries. How does migration change the world? Can it be managed in the coming decades?

The sixth session of the Valdai Club's 16th Annual Meeting was dedicated to the topic: "Middle East in the General Context of Russia’s Policy ".

The Middle East has always occupied a special place both in Moscow’s international strategy and in the Russian cultural and historical consciousness. Over the past few years, Russia has begun to play a key role in this part of the world. How does Russia see the Middle East today, what is its vision of its future and key objectives?

The fifth session of the Valdai Club's 16th Annual Meeting was dedicated to the topic: "Greater Eurasia as a New Form of Geo-Economic Space Organization".

Asia’s central position leads to a boom of concepts related to its strategic arrangement. China puts emphasis on economic projects, but they have a clear geostrategic profile. The United States is painstakingly building mechanisms to deter China, at the same time eroding multilateral and universal structures. Sub-regional organizations are being created, but their future is uncertain. What are the benefits of this competition of approaches? Is there a chance to build a united Asia or will be torn by competition despite the abundancy of important tasks which can only be solved by joint efforts?

On October 1, during its 16th Annual Meeting, the Valdai Discussion Club held a special session titled "Russia and the Islamic World: How They Interact and Influence Each Other."

Islam in Russia is one of the traditional religions deeply rooted in the nation’s history and culture. The Russian Islam is connected with the global Ummah, but it preserves and elaborates its own specifics, contributing to both the development of Russia and the international processes. Firsthand knowledge about Islam in Russia will be shared during the session.