Valdai Club

Western countries use the Group of Seven (G7) platform to coordinate and promote their agenda. They are more consolidated and often act from a unified position on the international stage. The expanding BRICS format, however, is beginning to unite non-Western countries. In these conditions, the Group of Twenty (G20) is in a kind of place between the West and the world majority countries.

Starting in 2022, the presidency of the G20 passed to the non-Western states for four years. First, at the Indonesian and then Indian summits, efforts were made to promote the interests of developing countries. The priorities of the Brazilian presidency are now on the agenda: inclusivity and reducing inequality. Within the G20, they can be put at the centre of the discussion and developed, including during the South African summit in 2025.

The Valdai Club experts will give practical recommendations to developing countries on how to achieve a consensus in adopting a final declaration this year and next. What could serve as the sustainable harmonisation of different positions in a multipolar world? Is greater consolidation possible among non-Western G20 members? Is there the political will for a constructive dialogue within the G20? How can the G20 format be more effective in bridging the gap between Western and non-Western approaches to global politics, economics and social development? Participants in the discussion will try to answer these and other questions.

Speakers:

• Marina Larionova, Director of the Centre for Research of International Institutions of the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration, Sherpa of Russia in the T20 (Think 20)
• Victoria Panova, Vice-Rector of the National Research University Higher School of Economics, Sherpa of the Russian Federation in the W20 (Women's 20)
• Nourhan ElSheikh, Professor of Political Science at Cairo University
• Rasigan Maharaj, Director General, Institute for Economic Research on Innovation, Tshwane University of Technology, South Africa

Moderator:

• Oleg Barabanov, Programme Director of the Valdai Discussion Club

Working languages: Russian, English.