Filip Božić from the Office of the Mayor of Bijeljina is taking part in the jubilee 10th Eastern Economic Forum, held in Vladivostok under the patronage of the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin.
 
The invitation to participate was extended to him by Anton Kobyakov, Special Adviser to the President of Russia. On the margins of the Forum, Božić met with Kobyakov, as well as with Maria Zakharova, Chief Spokeswoman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation.
 
“It is a particular honour to participate in such an important gathering, here in the Russian Far East. The Forum brings together the entire state leadership of the Russian Federation and numerous partner countries, as well as representatives of major Russian companies such as the Chairman of the Board of Sberbank, along with the top executives of leading Russian corporations including Gazprom, Aeroflot, Yandex… This year, representatives from more than seventy countries are present, which gives the event the dimension of a global dialogue. This is an opportunity to demonstrate our openness towards the world, global thinking, and respect for international relations. For us in Bijeljina, openness and international networking are values we strive for, which we nurture, among other things, through the project ‘Bijeljina is the World’,” Božić emphasised.
 
He stated that the presence of the City of Bijeljina at such gatherings does not signify alignment with one side or the other – East or West – but rather a desire to make itself more visible and prepared for cooperation.
 
The event attracted enormous media attention. Images from the Forum circulated around the world, with the plenary session of the President of Russia undoubtedly drawing the most attention.
 
“The most important segment of the Forum was the plenary session of President Vladimir Putin, attended by the Prime Ministers of Laos and Mongolia, as well as the Vice-Chairman of the Chinese National People’s Congress. Hearing President Putin’s positions live, immediately following his meetings with the President of the United States Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, gave me direct insight into current international trends and the dynamics of global dialogue,” noted Filip Božić.
 
At the plenary session, discussions focused on the future of the Eurasian region, on strengthening relations between Russia and China, as well as on the development of technologies shaping the new era.
 
“As a mathematician and someone who supports the development of new technologies, I was particularly inspired by the fact that a large part of the discussion was dedicated to artificial intelligence and FinTech solutions. The speakers agreed that artificial intelligence, as the technology of the 21st century, will shape humanity. I would especially highlight President Putin’s words that the future belongs to the youth and that their voice must be heard. This is a powerful message from a world leader to my generation and to all young people who want to actively participate in decision-making and key processes,” said the representative of the City of Bijeljina at this event. He added that President Putin’s message was especially significant in stressing that Russia is open to cooperation with American companies and business, underlining that the readiness for such cooperation is not solely a matter for the Russian side. From these words it is clear that there is no exclusivity, but rather a readiness for equal cooperation with all.
 
At the very end of the session, President Putin stated that he sees the future of Russia in a multipolar world. Time will tell which power centres will emerge as the true leaders of such an order.