Perm hosted the International Public Political Hearings

2025-06-01 16:00

From 28 to 30 May, Perm hosted the International Public Political Hearings, providing an important platform for discussing key trends in global politics and economics.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov attended the event and delivered a keynote speech on the transformation of the global world order.

In his speech, Mr Lavrov emphasised that the Euro-Atlantic bloc has lost its monopoly on world leadership, while the BRICS association is demonstrating steady growth and strategic advantage.

"Today, we can confidently say that the BRICS association is the driving force behind global development. In terms of aggregate economic indicators, our alliance is already ahead of the G7, and this gap continues to widen. This is a natural result of the multipolar policy consistently advocated by Russia and its partners,” said the Russian Foreign Minister.

A key part of the proceedings was the discussion of municipal and interregional cooperation within BRICS. Mikhail Cherepanov, Chairman of the Organising Committee for the International Municipal BRICS Forum 2025–2026, presented plans for the upcoming event, due to take place on 20–21 November in St. Petersburg.

Meetings were held with high-ranking representatives of the BRICS countries to discuss prospects for cooperation in areas such as the economy, culture, urban development and digitalisation. Foreign partners confirmed their interest in strengthening ties with Russia. Agreements were reached on a series of working visits to develop joint projects.

Ekaterina Shmalko, the authorised representative for cooperation with the BRICS countries (IMBRICS), noted:
'The meetings held on the sidelines of the hearings were of exceptional importance for shaping the programme of the November Forum. We discussed key areas of cooperation and laid a solid foundation for a long-term partnership. It is particularly significant that all participants demonstrated a genuine interest in fostering municipal partnerships as a vital component of the BRICS strategy."

The Perm hearings were yet another confirmation of the growing role of BRICS in shaping a fair, multipolar world. As one of the leaders of the association, Russia continues to strengthen international cooperation.

The annual International Municipal BRICS Forum in St. Petersburg will once again be a pivotal event in implementing this strategy, bringing together cities and regions to drive progress in the economy, technology, and the humanitarian sphere.