Think Tank
The Valdai Discussion Club and Islamabad Policy Research Institute Sign a Cooperation Agreement
Sochi, Russia

On November 3, 2024, on the eve of the 21st Annual Meeting, the Valdai Discussion Club and Islamabad Policy Research Institute, basing on the long-standing traditions of friendship, cooperation and sympathy between the Russian Federation and Pakistan, signed a cooperation agreement.

The ceremony was attended by Chairman of the Board of the Valdai Discussion Club Andrey Bystritskiy and President of Islamabad Policy Research Institute Raza Muhammad.

The agreement confirms the mutual desire to strengthen ties between the academic and expert communities of Russia and Pakistan, make a qualified and objective assessment of world political and economic issues, and seek joint solutions aimed at developing relations between governments and societies. The document also facilitates the implementation of various joint projects, in particular, conducting academic research, forums and conferences. All this will contribute to the establishment of an effective dialogue between experts from Russia and Pakistan.

The Valdai Discussion Club was established in 2004. It is named after Lake Valdai, which is located close to Veliky Novgorod, where the Club’s first meeting took place. The intellectual potential of the Valdai Discussion Club is highly regarded both in Russia and abroad. More than 9,000 scientists, researchers, policy makers and public figures from around the world have taken part in the Club’s activities.

Established in 1999, IPRI exemplifies two decades of analysis of crucial strategic agendas and inter-governmental processes that influence national and regional policy community. IPRI has recently undergone a reorientation of research culture with the objective of aligning its research products to policy issues germane to Pakistan’s government and policy community.