Putin To Keynote St. Petersburg International Economic Forum

June 2, 2021 (EIRNS)—The Kremlin has announced that Russian President Vladimir Putin will address the June 4 plenary session of the annual St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF), which is being held from June 2-5. Over 2,000 foreign participants are expected to take part virtually in about 100 panel discussions, with the largest delegations of some 200 each expected from China, the U.S. and Qatar.

Putin’s address, which he will deliver in person, will be followed by a roundtable discussion with the participation by videoconference of Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz and the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Putin is currently preparing his remarks, but they are expected to focus on Russia’s socio-economic development and its investment attractiveness. On occasion, Putin has also used his keynotes at SPIEF summits to launch significant international economic policy initiatives.