On March 4–5, 2025, the Valdai Discussion Club will hold the 5th Central Asian Conference. Its theme is “Russia and the Central Asia: Cooperation in the Multipolar World”. The Central Asian Valdai Club conference is being held for the fifth time in Russia. This year, the venue is moving from Ufa, Bashkiria to Lake Baikal in Eastern Siberia (Irkutsk), one of the most recognizable symbols of Siberia and Russia. The goal of the conference is to expand intellectual discussion among the expert community of Russia and the Central Asian countries in the context of fundamental changes in the world order.
Programme of the 5th Central Asian Conference of the Valdai Discussion Club
“Russia and the Central Asia: Cooperation in the Multipolar World”
Irkutsk, March 4 – 5, 2025
Attention! The time specified in the programme is local
March 4, Tuesday
09:30 – 9:50 Opening of the conference (live: Russian, English)
10:00 – 11:30 Session I. True Multipolarity: Opportunities and Challenges (live: Russian, English)
Fundamental changes in the international environment pose similar challenges and opportunities for both Russia and the Central Asian countries. These include increasing conflict potential among major states, transformation of the old globalization model, trade wars, and a simultaneously increase in the potential for the expansion of economic ties. In the future, true multipolarity will become the main external factor of development and cooperation in Greater Eurasia, and its influence may be favourable for achieving regional countries' goals. The aim of this session is to discuss the main opportunities and challenges for Russia and Central Asian countries in the context of the emerging new international order.
12:00 – 13:30 Session II. Eurasian Security and State Sovereignty
The desire of states to ensure their sovereignty and autonomy in making foreign policy decisions can be a contributing or hindering factor to broad regional cooperation. Now Russia and Central Asia are aiming to create a space for constructive interstate cooperation in Eurasia and to solve acute problems of development and security without jeopardizing state sovereignty. Possible methods and directions of such cooperation are the main subject of discussion in this session.
14:30 – 16:00 Session III. Adequate Solutions to Common Challenges: Climate, Water, Demography
The consequences of climate change, water supply and demography are the main issues directly related to cooperation between Russia and Central Asian countries. Their solution involves almost all aspects of our relations and also impacts the overall development of the Eurasian region. At the national level and within the framework of international organizations, Russia and its partner countries are already making progress towards the practical steps required in these fields of our relations. The objective of the session is to discuss the dynamics of common challenges and the joint actions needed to tackle them.
16:30 – 18:00 Session IV. Russia and Central Asia in Greater Eurasia: International Trade and Transportation
International trade and transportation are the most essential areas of economic activity that shape the common space of Russia and Central Asia and ensure their engagement in the Eurasian and global economy. Nowadays both spheres of cooperation are rapidly developing. The main objective of the session is to identify the main trends of cooperation, discuss prospects and problems in these areas.
March 5, Wednesday
10:30 – 12:00 Open discussion (live: Russian, English)
The Valdai Club’s Central Asian conference traditionally features an open discussion format. The aim of this discussion is to bring attention to issues which have not been sufficiently covered in the main conference programme, to identify areas and topics for future discussion, and to engage in free exchange of views on other pressing matters of bilateral relations and cooperation between Russia, the Central Asian countries, and the rest of the world.
