Online Desk: The 9th International Scientific and Expert Forum Primakov Readings began its work at the Moscow’s World Trade Center on Monday.

Post-Globalization Horizons is the main topic of the discussions at this event attended by politicians, diplomats, scholars, experts, and business representatives.

This year, the event will traditionally receive 80 leading foreign experts in international security, world politics, and economics from 31 countries of the world including Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, China, Cuba, Egypt, Finland, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Nigeria, Oman, South Africa, Syria, Turkey, Uganda, USA, Uzbekistan and others.

In total, more than 1300 representatives of the Russian and foreign scientific and expert community, government agencies, and political and business circles are scheduled to take part in the forum, said the organizers.

For the first time in its history, the event will receive two presidents: current President of Uganda Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, and President of South Africa (1999-2008) Thabo Mbeki. Another feature of the upcoming forum is the session entitled Russia-Africa to be held at the Primakov Readings for the first time.

The two days of the Primakov Readings include eight working sessions, as well as traditional address by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

“He plans to present Russia’s vision of the main trends in global development related to the ongoing formation of a fairer multipolar world order,” said Director of the Information and Press Department of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Maria Zakharova at a briefing on 22 November.

Welcoming remarks to the forum participants will be delivered by Yury Ushakov, Aide to the President of the Russian Federation, Head of the Primakov Readings Organizing Committee, Konstantin Kosachev, Deputy Speaker of the Federation Council of the Russian Federation, Alexander Dynkin, President of Primakov National Research Institute of World Economy and International Relations (IMEMO), and Sergey Katyrin, President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Russia.

“The globalization we have seen over the last 30 years has run out of steam. The first step towards a new globalization was the G20 meeting in New Delhi. However, it is difficult to say what it will be like in the future. The consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, the crises in Ukraine and the Middle East, growing tensions between China and the United States, energy risks, as well as security challenges such as the climate and migration crises:  these and other factors are shaping the post-global world and are therefore central to this year’s Primakov Readings,” Alexander Dynkin noted.

The discussions are focusing on political risks for global energy markets, cooperation of Russia and states of Central Asia and South Caucasus, Sino-American relations, and the development of the Global South.

The participants are also expected to touch on the balance of power in the Baltic region and prospects for the development of relations between Russia and countries of the Middle East and Africa.

This year, the forum is being held both online and face-to-face. Some foreign speakers address the event via videoconference. Everyone can watch the discussions remotely on the IMEMO RAS YouTube channel.