The experts considered the specific character of the EXPO in terms of technological progress in the next decade, and also discussed how the World Exhibitions help cities and countries in sustainable development.

The meeting was moderated by Tina Kandelaki, General Producer of Match TV.

Denis Manturov, the Minister of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation, told about the importance of the World Exhibitions: “For EXPO-2025, we presented Yekaterinburg and this is how a lot of people learned about the Urals. And for the World Exhibition in 2030, Moscow became a candidate city from Russia. After the Olympics in Sochi and the 2018 FIFA World Cup, we were convinced that after such events, the attitude towards the country changes. We can say that this is mild impact on the building of international relations.”

Dimitri Kerkentzes, Secretary General of the International Bureau of Exhibitions, noted that Russia accepts many international guests at the highest level, while playing an important role in the fight against COVID-19.

“I don’t know if Russia is able to win the bid for EXPO-2030, but its potential is really huge. Such events help build dialogues, discuss the most important issues that society faces in the near future,” Dimitri Kerkentzes explained.

Arkadiy Dvorkovich, Chairman of the Skolkovo Foundation, shared upcoming holding of the World Chess Championship match at the EXPO. According to him, events of such format bring additional value and expand the significance for those who follow the competitions on the site and through the media. This is a chance to make a massive event and show chess correctly. EXPO provides an opportunity to see all the diversity of the world at one point.

“2030 shall be the summing up of the 10th anniversary for the whole world, starting from environmental to educational programs, and this is important and beautiful,” Arkadiy Dvorkovich said.

In 2025, the Japanese city of Osaka shall host the EXPO. Ichiro Matsui, the mayor of Osaka, shared the plans for the event: “Our competitor was Yekaterinburg, perhaps it was the strongest one. The theme of Expo 2025 is “Building a Future Society for a Shining Life”. It overlaps with the UN’s 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. In connection with this topic, we created a plan for our event. We want to show new technologies, what a wonderful service Japan is capable of, its attractiveness, to demonstrate the contribution that we can make to world development.”

Rim Al Hashimi, the Minister of State for International Cooperation of the United Arab Emirates, Director General, Expo 2020 Dubai, focused on the tools and mechanisms of cooperation when holding such events.

“World EXPOs are an opportunity to think about what the future shall be like. It is necessary to unite not only at the level of states, but also at the level of common people. We need to learn to work together. Such sites should have a humanistic role, go through some kind of joint experience. EXPO is a pathway to be taken together,” Rim Al Hashimi says.

According to Muhammad Lutfi, the Minister of Trade of the Republic of Indonesia, exhibitions play a key role in international cooperation: “We are responsible for the state of the world, for sustainable development, for ourselves and our loved ones. I am sure that technologies provide a range of opportunities.”

Rania Almashat, the Minister of International Cooperation of the Arab Republic of Egypt, devoted her speech to the ways of interaction.

“One of the challenges is to promote sustainable development goals. For example, the pandemic has shown that people can tackle the most difficult problems together. We realized that we can cooperate. Another important idea is world peace. And the World Exhibitions help consensus-building. Another important element is the growth rates, which must remain sustainable as the planet develops,” Rania Almashat stated.