Speech by Marat Khusnullin, Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation, at the plenary session of the Strategic Vision Group "Russia - Islamic World":

Dear Rustam Nurgaliyevich, Gurbanguly Myalikgulyevich, distinguished spiritual leaders (Ravil Hazrat, Talgat Hazrat, Albir Hazrat, Metropolitan Antony of Korsun) guests and participants of the meeting!

On behalf of the Government of Russia and myself personally, I am pleased to welcome you to the plenary meeting of the Strategic Vision Group "Russia - Islamic World"! At the beginning of today's meeting, I would like to read out the President's welcoming address.

Dear friends, the development of cooperation with Muslim countries is one of the priorities of our foreign policy. Today, this cooperation has acquired the character of a strategic partnership, and it is developing dynamically thanks, among other things, to the active work of the Strategic Vision Group.

For more than 15 years it has been working to establish close and comprehensive contacts between Russia and Muslim countries, making an invaluable contribution to the further strengthening of our ties.

Dear friends, despite the new challenges and threats the world is currently facing, our relations are stable and predictable, opening up new prospects for further work.

Today we are meeting at a difficult time, in the conditions of confronting hostile actions of Western countries. At the same time, the Islamic world is undergoing severe trials in the Middle East.

The existence of fundamental norms of international interaction, which the West is actively trying to replace with some kind of order based on democratic principles, is being jeopardized.

Principles that aim to divide friendly countries and prevent the creation of a sustainable, just, multipolar world, which we are working hard to build.

In this way, traditional norms of morality and high moral guidelines, which are the basis of sacred scriptures, are being erased. These processes are unacceptable for Russia.

In these conditions, it is especially important to convey what the Russian people are, who have always been on the side of truth and justice, who have always stood for unity between nations, for peaceful coexistence.

Islam is an indigenous faith for millions of Russians. Along with other traditional religions, it has influenced the formation of a unique Russian civilization, where representatives of many nations and confessions live in peace and harmony.

Dear friends, thank you all once again for your support! I would like to say a special thank you to the Republic of Tatarstan, spiritual administrations and members of the Group for their active and effective work.

I am confident that the ongoing work and further development of the activities of the Strategic Vision Group will be an important step towards strengthening cooperation in economic and humanitarian aspects.

I trust that our unity will serve to strengthen mutual understanding between our countries. Together we will be able to overcome the existing challenges and achieve prosperity of our states and peoples.

I wish you fruitful work, effective solutions and good luck!

Marat Shakirzyanovich Khusnullin,
Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation