The Minister of Culture of the Russian Federation, Olga Lyubimova, heads of official foreign delegations and senior officials from international organizations discussed the prospects for international cultural cooperation in the modern world at the X St. Petersburg International United Cultures Forum.
Representatives from Abkhazia, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Afghanistan, Bahrain, Belarus, Burundi, Venezuela, Vietnam, Djibouti, Egypt, Zimbabwe, India, Kazakhstan, China, Cuba, Kuwait, Laos, Lebanon, Nepal, Nicaragua, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Palestine, Transnistria, Seychelles, Serbia, Sudan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Turkey, Uzbekistan, the Central African Republic, Sri Lanka, South Africa, and South Ossetia, as well as from the Commonwealth of Independent States, the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the BRICS Business Council, and the League of Arab States, took part in the meeting.
Opening the meeting, Olga Lyubimova stressed that Russian cultural figures have gained true friends worldwide over the years of the forum’s existence in St. Petersburg.
In her opening speech, the head of Russia’s Ministry of Culture noted that every state, in the current geopolitical situation, is paying close attention to culture and preserving its people's historical heritage.
"The Russian Federation consistently pursues a policy to support and promote traditional spiritual and moral values. At the same time, Russia is a unique example of a multinational and multicultural state open to interaction with foreign countries. And this interaction, historically, is not just in words but in deeds, built on the principles of respect, equality, and brotherhood among peoples," she said.
Speaking about the prospects for international cultural cooperation, Olga Lyubimova noted the importance of preserving and promoting cultural exchange festivals with foreign countries. In 2023–2024, Days of Russian Culture and Cinema were held in 32 countries, and Russia warmly hosted festivals from 15 countries.
According to the Minister, participation in major international cultural festivals is essential to cultural dialogue. Familiarizing creative teams and cultural figures with one another is fundamental to fostering friendship and mutual understanding.
Olga Lyubimova also touched upon cultural education, which directly influences “our future.” Students from various Russian regions and 103 countries worldwide study at Russian creative universities.
"Today, we are working on creating a world free from prejudices, distortions of history, the ‘cancellation of culture,’ and other negative tendencies, as well as the social vices of mass consumer culture," said the Minister.
The head of the Russian Ministry of Culture also informed foreign colleagues about initiatives planned for 2025: the international open song competition "Intervision," the world’s first "Music EXPO," and the Eurasian Film Academy and Cinema Awards. This large-scale creative and ideological project aimed at uniting countries through cinema that resist modern trends of undermining morality, family values, self-respect, and national sovereignty.
"We are ready to share our experience and are committed to ensuring equal opportunities for interaction with foreign cultures. Of course, we would also be happy to hear your proposals and learn from your experiences building sustainable links between national cultures," Olga Lyubimova addressed the heads of foreign delegations.
The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, Alexander Pankin, who also participated in the meeting, expressed his belief that all members of the international community have the right to equal access to cultural assets.
"We believe that any form of politicization in the cultural sphere is unacceptable, and sanctions that limit access to works of world cultural heritage or prohibit cultural and creative activities in one’s native language are impermissible," he emphasized.
During the meeting, the Minister of Culture of the Republic of South Ossetia, Radmila Dzagoyeva, presented Olga Lyubimova with a state award—the Order of Friendship — for her contribution to the development of cultural cooperation between Russia and South Ossetia.
Additionally, several documents on cooperation were signed with Abkhazia, Vietnam, and Sudan.