1st International Conference Russia and Brazil in BRICS+: Opportunities and Challenges in a Changing World held at the Institute of International Relations
The main goal of the forum was to develop dialogue between the member countries and to understand the current challenges and opportunities facing them. Representatives of KFU and the GEBRICS research group (Brazil) moderated the conference, ensuring a dynamic and constructive workflow throughout all sessions.
Ilsur Metshin, Mayor of Kazan, sent a welcoming address.
“I would especially like to emphasize the outstanding role of universities in strengthening international relations. Kazan Federal University and the Pontifical Catholic University of Minas Gerais provide an excellent example of how to build a solid foundation for the implementation of large-scale projects. Such events make a significant contribution to the formation of a multipolar world based on the principles of justice, mutual respect, and partnership. Each new joint project, each implemented initiative, is another step toward creating more balanced and sustainable international relations,” said the letter read out by Chair of the Department of Regional Studies and Digital Humanities Marat Galiullin.
Rishat Guzeyrov, Vice-Rector for Comprehensive Security, also addressed the participants, “Kazan Federal University has historically developed partnerships with Latin American countries, as evidenced by the fact that a large KFU delegation, led by Vice-Rector for International Affairs Timirkhan Alishev, is currently visiting [Belo Horizonte – editor’s note]. We are very pleased to be developing cooperation in various areas: from training students who choose our university to study medicine, engineering, and the humanities, to research projects in Spanish and Portuguese languages.”
In his address, Vadim Kozlov, Deputy Director for Research at the Institute of International Relations, History and Eastern Studies, emphasized the importance of strengthening scientific and cultural ties between Russia and Brazil.
“The BRICS countries account for a third of the earth’s land area, almost half the population, and 40 percent of the global economy. In this regard, an interstate union based on the principles of collegiality and equality is becoming increasingly attractive and offers great potential. Cooperation in the BRICS+ format, particularly between our country and Brazil, contributes to strengthening interactions in trade, investment, and economic growth,” Kozlov noted.
Welcoming remarks were also delivered by Tatyana Mashkova, Director General of the National Committee for the Promotion of Economic Cooperation with Latin American Countries (NCPECLAC), and Sergey Andryushin, Vice-Rector for International Affairs at St. Petersburg State University. Particular attention was paid to the role of universities as centers of expertise and humanitarian diplomacy, capable of strengthening international trust and developing new formats of interaction between countries of the Global South.
The plenary presentations covered a wide range of issues related to the development of mechanisms for scientific and educational links. Individual reports focused on the contribution of humanitarian cooperation to the development of the association, particularly the importance of cultural diplomacy and language exchange as tools for rapprochement. Particular attention was paid to the potential for expanding bilateral educational programs and research initiatives.