On June 18 at 13:00 p.m. Moscow Time (GMT+3), as part of the business programme of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum 2025, the Valdai Club will hold a roundtable discussion titled “Sustainability in a World of Uncertainty: Universal Security Through Stronger States”.
The Valdai session will be the second instalment of a broader discussion of the origins and methods of ensuring security in the modern world, in particular, how individual states can ensure internal sustainability as the main prerequisite for their own security. It will continue the discussion of security through the lens of individual perspectives, which will be the topic of the roundtable to be held by Valdai in St. Petersburg the day before, on June 17, 2025.
In the wake of the escalation of the Ukraine crisis, Western nations have sought to dismantle the existing world order and isolate Russia.However, the international system has endured – albeit deformed – with Russia not only maintaining its position but also forging new partnerships and proposing alternative paradigms that have resonated across the World Majority. It is important to understand what is required of countries and the system of interstate relations so that, despite any upheavals, they can survive. That is why the discussion at the session will be based on issues of strengthening sovereignty, ensuring security in various spheres and achieving sustainability.
The Valdai Club seeks to attract experts from different countries and from various spheres in order to bring together the maximum number of points of view. This year, the Club has invited representatives from India, China, Switzerland and Sri Lanka. They will take part not only in the Valdai session, but also in the first part of the discussion within the framework of the roundtable organized by Valdai the day before.
The issues to be considered within the framework of the Valdai session include:
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What is 21st century sustainability amid the emergence of new international conditions?
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What should states be concerned about first and foremost?
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What components of sovereignty are critically necessary for the successful development of fundamental changes in the world which can withstand the test of time?
Traditionally, the Valdai session at the SPIEF will be opened by Valdai Club Chairman Andrey Bystritsky.
Speakers:
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Roman Chekushov, State Secretary – Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation
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Ranil Wickremesinghe, Founder of the Geopolitical Cartographer Research Foundation, President of Sri Lanka (2022-2024)
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Feng Wei, Vice-Chairman of the China Institutes of Innovation and Development Strategy (China)
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Vineet Kumar, Founder and Global President of the CyberPeace Foundation (India)
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Roger Köppel, Editor-in-Chief and Publisher of Die Weltwoche magazine
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Binod K. Chaudhary, Chairman, Chaudhary Group, CG Corp Global; Member of Parliament, Nepal; Head, Geopolitical Cartographer, Nepal
Moderator:
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Fyodor Lukyanov, Research Director of the Valdai Discussion Club
Working languages : Russian, English.
Venue: Saint Petersburg, Peterburgskoe Shosse, 64/1, Expoforum, Congress Center, Conference Hall G5, Pavilion G.
Admission to the event is possible for SPIEF participants and journalists accredited for the Forum.
The post-session press scrum will be held at press point #3 near Hall G1 in Pavilion G from 14:30 to 15:00.
