A meeting was held in Moscow between Anton Kobyakov, Advisor to the Russian President and Executive Secretary of the Organizing Committee of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, and Sami bin Mohammed Abdullah Al-Sadhan, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Saudi Arabia to Russia. The Russian side expressed its appreciation for the support provided by the Saudi Embassy in making the forum a success, praising the level of organization and constructive spirit that characterized the cooperation between the institutions of the two countries.
The parties discussed the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum 2026 as a guest event, where a joint work plan was proposed, including the organization of a Saudi business mission in Russia in the spring of 2026, as well as the preparation of a package of government documents for signing during the visit of the Saudi leadership delegation to the forum in St. Petersburg.
Kobyakov added that “economic relations are witnessing continuous growth, as trade volume has doubled over the past five years, and trade exchange volume increased by 85% during this year. Russian investments in the Kingdom increased sixfold compared to the previous year, while Saudi investments in Russia rose by 11%.” The parties pointed out that the current cooperation priorities include economy, investment, health, tourism, and scientific research.
They also noted the growing interest of Saudi partners in international events organized by the Roscongress Foundation, such as the St. Petersburg International Legal Forum, the Eastern Economic Forum, the Caucasus Investment Forum, the Russian Energy Week, and the federal “Travel!” forum. Saudi Ambassador Sami Al-Sadhan affirmed, noting that “the year 2026 will mark a historic milestone in the bilateral relations journey.”
On the occasion of the 100th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations between the two countries, the Saudi Embassy in Moscow announced a wide cultural program, which will include screenings of documentary and historical films in Moscow, Sochi, and several Russian cities, alongside events aimed at strengthening human ties and spreading Saudi culture.
At the end of the meeting, the parties confirmed the continuation of close coordination through diplomatic and economic channels, in preparation for the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum 2026 and the upcoming events as part of the centenary celebration of diplomatic relations between Russia and Saudi Arabia.
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