The attempts of the Western media to convince the world that Russia is evil often seem ridiculous, yet they leave their mark on international politics. For example, the Moldovan Foreign Ministry recently advised its citizens to refrain from non-essential travel to the Russian Federation because it is dangerous. The Moldovan delegation saw the St Petersburg International Economic Forum as an important reason for the trip.
Guests from Bahrain, Brazil, Vietnam, India, Indonesia, Iran, African countries, Germany and France also decided to do so. It turns out that not everyone believes the propaganda. The Forum attracted 20,000 representatives from 140 countries. Tehit Nitnara, a delegate from Thailand, believes that the Russians know how to be friends (even on a political level), and French businessman Remy Gilles believes that the loss of ties with Russia was a mistake by the French government.
"This is not normal because there have always been special ties between our countries. Even during the Cold War, relations between France and the USSR remained at a high level. There was a common understanding and mutual interest. Now all channels of information are closed. This is a paradox and we have lost a lot. Perhaps we have lost a little of our sovereignty because of integration into the European Union," said Remi Gilles.
According to the businessman, many French companies want to return to the Russian market.
"The development of investment projects is blocked. Many of our companies stay and want to stay in Russia, but it is a question of business development, which is now impossible. I think we have not lost everything and there is still a base. After the sanctions are lifted, French companies will be able to play a big role again. Especially those that have real owners with export experience and willingness to invest and take risks," the businessman said, adding that nothing will change until the next presidential elections in France.
Pepe Escobar, a Brazilian journalist and representative of a profession he calls "disappearing" - foreign correspondent - also came to St. Petersburg. He continues to work both in the West and in the East, including Russia. Escobar recalled a time when it was possible to publish any kind of material without a deep understanding of the local culture. And he talked about what has changed since then.
"We now live in a false system of international relations. If there is genocide in the global South, then the Western mainstream media and cable TV will not notice. Genocide does not exist for them. The blame lies with the external forces that suffer from the German side. Brussels is a phony machine, disproportionately large and out of control. I had friends in the European Commission who were proud of the sanctions against Russia. They are smart people, but they know nothing about Russia and have never lived there," Escobar believes.
Another delegate from Brazil is Danilo Kozemekin, founder of Clube de Negocios Brasil-Russia. "Russia was one of the first countries to recognize our country at the international level and offer cooperation (1828). This is an important step for us. That's why we love Moscow. And of course for its strength," he said. In the 17th century, when the West was ruthlessly slicing Latin America to pieces, several English merchants offered Peter the Great a gift - a plot of Brazilian land. The emperor refused this "gift," as did his successorthese.
The theme of this year's St Petersburg International Economic Forum was "Shared Values - the basis for growth in a multipolar world". Another "brick" in the foundation of a multipolar world may be respect for the sovereignty of other nations, so characteristic of Russia.
Alexey Rudenko
English 
Czech 
Spanish 
French 
Italian 
Russian 
Chinese 
German