SAINT PETERSBURG, October 29. The International Municipal BRICS Forum 2025, held at the Expoforum Convention and Exhibition Centre, brought together over 5,500 participants from 75 countries, including mayors, governors, parliamentarians, diplomats, and business representatives. This large-scale event united delegates around discussions on effective governance models, social policy, inter-parliamentary cooperation, investment and municipal diplomacy, ecology and innovation, high-tech and environmentally friendly industries, digitalisation and AI, healthcare, development, urban planning, and infrastructure. The youth agenda, education, culture, tourism, sport, and inclusivity were also at the heart of attention.
The Plenary Session was opened on behalf of the organisers by Leonid Tyagachev, Chairman of the Organising Committee of the IMBRICS Forum and Adviser-Mentor to the Mayor of Moscow.
The Opening Ceremony set a high technological and artistic standard: a performance by a violin ensemble was followed by the appearance of an AI-generated avatar assistant whose words reflected the spirit of the event: “All that is most beautiful begins with people, and the future begins here — with your ideas, your light.”
The ceremony culminated in a spectacular artistic performance symbolising the unity of tradition and innovation — the great Russian ballet merging with modern rhythms.
Sergey Ryabkov, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, underlined the importance of the IMBRICS Forum platform and conveyed greetings to participants on behalf of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov:
“Over the years, the International Municipal BRICS Forum has established itself as an important platform for strengthening practical cooperation and productive dialogue on issues that concern every citizen of the BRICS countries.
Interregional cooperation and interaction between cities are integral parts of the BRICS strategic partnership, which today encompasses virtually all areas of interstate engagement. Our association is built on the principles of equality, mutual respect, and shared benefit, and is forward-looking.
Its key goal is to shape a fairer world order and ensure sustainable and harmonious development for the BRICS nations and the global community as a whole — and, of course, the well-being of our citizens. This path is founded on self-reliance rather than dependency, and on national traditional values rather than externally imposed ideologies. Achieving these goals requires hard work — grounded in mutual understanding and friendship, which largely shape the atmosphere and the very essence of events such as today’s Forum.”
Evgeny Grachev, Deputy Head of the Presidential Directorate for Domestic Policy of the Russian Federation, speaking at the Plenary Session, reiterated the key task set by the President of Russia for municipalities, regions, and federal authorities:
“At the heart of power is the person — the individual living in every corner of our country, in every local community. All our national projects and regional and municipal programmes are aimed at serving people.
I believe that our BRICS partners share this same principle. That is why cooperation between us is not only possible, but essential.
One of the key directions of the National Project Infrastructure for Life is the creation of a comfortable urban environment. In more than ten years of implementation, we have made significant progress in building beautiful and meaningful spaces — including those that help shape the younger generation. This is experience we can share, and of course, much we can learn from our BRICS colleagues.
We are developing a culture of knowledge exchange — it is our key priority. Recently, the International School of Municipal Leadership was launched in Russia to foster cooperation and best practice exchange with international partners. We invite all our BRICS colleagues to take part.”
Irina Guseva, Co-Chair of the All-Russian Association for the Development of Local Self-Government (VARMSU), welcomed heads of municipalities and mayors from BRICS countries to the hospitable land of Leningrad Region:
“Our association unites 16,300 heads of municipalities across the Russian Federation — from small villages to million-plus cities. We are not only happy to see you — we are open to dialogue.
We are ready for any form of exchange and cooperation — through twinning relations, people’s diplomacy, and mutual learning. We are for friendship and communication!”
The central theme of the first-day Plenary Session was “Smart City Development Strategies: Infrastructure Management.”
Alexey Shaposhnikov, Chairman of the Moscow City Duma, under whose auspices the Forum is held, delivered a report on the legislative aspects of digital transformation in megacities and the importance of inter-parliamentary cooperation in this sphere.
He noted that over the past 25 years, Moscow has become a pilot ground for advanced technologies. The capital’s achievements are impressive: thanks to the introduction of digital public services, Muscovites save up to 100 million hours annually.
“Today, more than 100 AI-based projects are being implemented in Moscow across healthcare, transport, education, construction, and other key sectors of the urban economy.
Moscow is evolving rapidly, embedding technologies across all areas to make life more convenient, comfortable, and safe.
In 2023, Moscow ranked first among global megacities in the UN rating for digital public services. Today, over 420 state and municipal services are provided digitally,” said Shaposhnikov.
Alexander Drozdenko, Governor of Leningrad Region, emphasised that modern infrastructure must be not only technologically advanced but also comfortable for people. Digitalisation, he noted, should encompass all areas — from transport and housing and utilities to environmental protection and social services.
At the same time, according to the Chairman of the Moscow City Parliament, the introduction of innovation into everyday life also creates the need to keep legislation up to date. This is a continuous process, and members of parliament must respond promptly to emerging challenges and prepare the legal foundations for the ongoing changes taking place in society.
“A vivid example is autonomous transport — it demands legal regulation concerning safety, liability, and insurance. Legislators must not only respond but anticipate. Therefore, exchanging best practices with our BRICS partners is crucial,” noted Shaposhnikov.
Alexey Shaposhnikov announced the creation of the Parliamentary Movement of BRICS Capitals — a platform for direct dialogue, exchange of legislative experience, and coordination among major cities of the association.
Members already include legislative bodies from Addis Ababa (Ethiopia), Havana (Cuba), Kampala (Uganda), Minsk (Беларусь), Beijing (China), Tehran (Iran), and Tshwane (South Africa) — representing millions united by the pursuit of peace and cooperation.
The Minister of the Moscow Government and Head of the Department for External Economic and International Relations of the City of Moscow, Sergey Cheremin, spoke about how Moscow continues to actively implement its city diplomacy strategy. This approach allows the city to learn from the best international practices while also sharing its own experience:
“We take pride in the fact that today our partners include not only the capitals of the BRICS countries but also more than 150 major metropolises and urban agglomerations across all continents, with over 100 cooperation programmes currently in place. Having adopted its development strategy more than ten years ago, Moscow has now, as a result — among other things — of international cooperation, become one of the most advanced cities in the world in almost every sphere.”
Today, Moscow stands among the world’s most advanced cities, particularly in the creation of a comfortable urban environment. For this achievement, the city received an international award, ranking first in terms of infrastructure quality and urban comfort. Sergey Cheremin shared several facts about the large-scale development of the capital:
“Today, Moscow boasts one of the most modern metro systems in the world and ranks among the top three cities in terms of metro construction speed. We use the most advanced facial recognition technologies at metro entrances — the facial biometrics system. More than 300,000 surveillance cameras are installed across the Russian capital. Large data processing centres operate efficiently, allowing us not only to ensure public safety but also to achieve a sharp reduction in street crime. While crime rates are rising in Europe, ours are falling dramatically,” Cheremin noted. “The processing of vast amounts of data is also based on artificial intelligence. Moscow ranks second only to Singapore among the world’s smartest cities.”
The Head of the Department for External Economic and International Relations of Moscow said that over the past ten years, a digital twin of the capital has been created. This model provides information on all planned construction projects. Data collected by various departments is digitised, and the product enables rapid strategic decision-making and, most importantly, forecasting of development trends. This helps determine the required number of kindergartens and schools necessary for the sustainable development of the metropolis. It has facilitated comprehensive territorial development and transformed former industrial and depressed areas into residential and business districts.
These achievements were also made possible thanks to the active involvement of citizens in city life through platforms such as “Active Citizen”.
“The combined efforts of everyone involved in the city’s development process made it possible to create a harmonious environment and engage every resident in managing their district. It is no coincidence that Moscow is now among the global leaders in various rankings,” Cheremin added.
Foreign participants of the plenary session shared their impressions of Russian megacities and their plans for cooperation. The Governor of Havana, the capital of Cuba, Yanet Hernández Pérez, spoke about specific projects:
“We are learning from you — how you develop the urban environment and what interesting architectural solutions can be observed here. In fact, this experience can be very beneficial for the residents of Havana. A group of students came from St Petersburg, and we can also send our students to you. Those who came to Havana visited various schools. They were told about our programmes and helped our schoolchildren. They brought very interesting ideas and gifts. We are delighted with such cooperation.
When I was preparing to travel to St Petersburg, my friends told me: ‘You will be amazed by this city.’ And they were right. We have some fascinating documents reflecting the ties between Russia and Cuba — a shared history that unites us.
We are ready to work with other cities, learning from you how you develop the urban environment, what interesting initiatives you introduce, and what architectural solutions we can observe. This is an experience that can truly help the people of Havana.”
The representative of India, President of Cosmos Group Mr Anil K. Agarwal, spoke about the extensive cooperation between countries within the BRICS association:
“There are now 15 of us, accounting for more than 30% of global GDP. Our common vision is to build a stable and prosperous future for India, China, Russia, Brazil, and all partner nations — a future based on the principles of equal partnership and strategic cooperation.
We are open to dialogue and ready to offer the full range of our capabilities for joint development. India, as an integral part of BRICS, will make every effort to strengthen and promote our association.”
Sheikh Dawood Al Shezawi, President of AIM Global Foundation (UAE) and member of the Organising Committee of the IMBRICS Forum, highlighted the key aspects most relevant to the development of municipalities worldwide:
“There are two crucial aspects — the power of artificial intelligence and the unique potential of each territory.”
Speaking about the rapid development of digital technologies, Irina Guseva, Co-Chair of the All-Russian Association for the Development of Local Self-Government, reminded participants of the importance of relying on human values:
“Indeed, in the age of digitalisation, one wishes to remain human — to serve people, to preserve values such as faith, hope, love, family, children, mother and father as unshakable foundations.”
The host of the IMBRICS Forum opening ceremony was musician and Moscow City Duma deputy Rodion Gazmanov, a member of the Duma Commission on Culture. Concluding the opening part, he performed the song ‘Russia’, which became a symbol of hospitality and unity of the world’s creative forces.
The plenary session was moderated by Ignaty Pavlov, General Director of the business daily Vedomosti.
The General Partner of the IMBRICS Forum 2025 is the Government of Moscow. The Forum is supported by the Federation Council, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, the Government of St Petersburg, the Moscow City Duma, the All-Russian Association for the Development of Local Self-Government, the Moscow Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs, and the Roscongress Foundation.
The General Media Partner is Vedomosti, and the Official News Agency is TASS. The Strategic Partner is Big Asia TV Channel.
The Plenary Session was opened on behalf of the organisers by Leonid Tyagachev, Chairman of the Organising Committee of the IMBRICS Forum and Adviser-Mentor to the Mayor of Moscow.
The Opening Ceremony set a high technological and artistic standard: a performance by a violin ensemble was followed by the appearance of an AI-generated avatar assistant whose words reflected the spirit of the event: “All that is most beautiful begins with people, and the future begins here — with your ideas, your light.”
The ceremony culminated in a spectacular artistic performance symbolising the unity of tradition and innovation — the great Russian ballet merging with modern rhythms.
Sergey Ryabkov, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, underlined the importance of the IMBRICS Forum platform and conveyed greetings to participants on behalf of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov:
“Over the years, the International Municipal BRICS Forum has established itself as an important platform for strengthening practical cooperation and productive dialogue on issues that concern every citizen of the BRICS countries.
Interregional cooperation and interaction between cities are integral parts of the BRICS strategic partnership, which today encompasses virtually all areas of interstate engagement. Our association is built on the principles of equality, mutual respect, and shared benefit, and is forward-looking.
Its key goal is to shape a fairer world order and ensure sustainable and harmonious development for the BRICS nations and the global community as a whole — and, of course, the well-being of our citizens. This path is founded on self-reliance rather than dependency, and on national traditional values rather than externally imposed ideologies. Achieving these goals requires hard work — grounded in mutual understanding and friendship, which largely shape the atmosphere and the very essence of events such as today’s Forum.”
Evgeny Grachev, Deputy Head of the Presidential Directorate for Domestic Policy of the Russian Federation, speaking at the Plenary Session, reiterated the key task set by the President of Russia for municipalities, regions, and federal authorities:
“At the heart of power is the person — the individual living in every corner of our country, in every local community. All our national projects and regional and municipal programmes are aimed at serving people.
I believe that our BRICS partners share this same principle. That is why cooperation between us is not only possible, but essential.
One of the key directions of the National Project Infrastructure for Life is the creation of a comfortable urban environment. In more than ten years of implementation, we have made significant progress in building beautiful and meaningful spaces — including those that help shape the younger generation. This is experience we can share, and of course, much we can learn from our BRICS colleagues.
We are developing a culture of knowledge exchange — it is our key priority. Recently, the International School of Municipal Leadership was launched in Russia to foster cooperation and best practice exchange with international partners. We invite all our BRICS colleagues to take part.”
Irina Guseva, Co-Chair of the All-Russian Association for the Development of Local Self-Government (VARMSU), welcomed heads of municipalities and mayors from BRICS countries to the hospitable land of Leningrad Region:
“Our association unites 16,300 heads of municipalities across the Russian Federation — from small villages to million-plus cities. We are not only happy to see you — we are open to dialogue.
We are ready for any form of exchange and cooperation — through twinning relations, people’s diplomacy, and mutual learning. We are for friendship and communication!”
The central theme of the first-day Plenary Session was “Smart City Development Strategies: Infrastructure Management.”
Alexey Shaposhnikov, Chairman of the Moscow City Duma, under whose auspices the Forum is held, delivered a report on the legislative aspects of digital transformation in megacities and the importance of inter-parliamentary cooperation in this sphere.
He noted that over the past 25 years, Moscow has become a pilot ground for advanced technologies. The capital’s achievements are impressive: thanks to the introduction of digital public services, Muscovites save up to 100 million hours annually.
“Today, more than 100 AI-based projects are being implemented in Moscow across healthcare, transport, education, construction, and other key sectors of the urban economy.
Moscow is evolving rapidly, embedding technologies across all areas to make life more convenient, comfortable, and safe.
In 2023, Moscow ranked first among global megacities in the UN rating for digital public services. Today, over 420 state and municipal services are provided digitally,” said Shaposhnikov.
Alexander Drozdenko, Governor of Leningrad Region, emphasised that modern infrastructure must be not only technologically advanced but also comfortable for people. Digitalisation, he noted, should encompass all areas — from transport and housing and utilities to environmental protection and social services.
At the same time, according to the Chairman of the Moscow City Parliament, the introduction of innovation into everyday life also creates the need to keep legislation up to date. This is a continuous process, and members of parliament must respond promptly to emerging challenges and prepare the legal foundations for the ongoing changes taking place in society.
“A vivid example is autonomous transport — it demands legal regulation concerning safety, liability, and insurance. Legislators must not only respond but anticipate. Therefore, exchanging best practices with our BRICS partners is crucial,” noted Shaposhnikov.
Alexey Shaposhnikov announced the creation of the Parliamentary Movement of BRICS Capitals — a platform for direct dialogue, exchange of legislative experience, and coordination among major cities of the association.
Members already include legislative bodies from Addis Ababa (Ethiopia), Havana (Cuba), Kampala (Uganda), Minsk (Беларусь), Beijing (China), Tehran (Iran), and Tshwane (South Africa) — representing millions united by the pursuit of peace and cooperation.
The Minister of the Moscow Government and Head of the Department for External Economic and International Relations of the City of Moscow, Sergey Cheremin, spoke about how Moscow continues to actively implement its city diplomacy strategy. This approach allows the city to learn from the best international practices while also sharing its own experience:
“We take pride in the fact that today our partners include not only the capitals of the BRICS countries but also more than 150 major metropolises and urban agglomerations across all continents, with over 100 cooperation programmes currently in place. Having adopted its development strategy more than ten years ago, Moscow has now, as a result — among other things — of international cooperation, become one of the most advanced cities in the world in almost every sphere.”
Today, Moscow stands among the world’s most advanced cities, particularly in the creation of a comfortable urban environment. For this achievement, the city received an international award, ranking first in terms of infrastructure quality and urban comfort. Sergey Cheremin shared several facts about the large-scale development of the capital:
“Today, Moscow boasts one of the most modern metro systems in the world and ranks among the top three cities in terms of metro construction speed. We use the most advanced facial recognition technologies at metro entrances — the facial biometrics system. More than 300,000 surveillance cameras are installed across the Russian capital. Large data processing centres operate efficiently, allowing us not only to ensure public safety but also to achieve a sharp reduction in street crime. While crime rates are rising in Europe, ours are falling dramatically,” Cheremin noted. “The processing of vast amounts of data is also based on artificial intelligence. Moscow ranks second only to Singapore among the world’s smartest cities.”
The Head of the Department for External Economic and International Relations of Moscow said that over the past ten years, a digital twin of the capital has been created. This model provides information on all planned construction projects. Data collected by various departments is digitised, and the product enables rapid strategic decision-making and, most importantly, forecasting of development trends. This helps determine the required number of kindergartens and schools necessary for the sustainable development of the metropolis. It has facilitated comprehensive territorial development and transformed former industrial and depressed areas into residential and business districts.
These achievements were also made possible thanks to the active involvement of citizens in city life through platforms such as “Active Citizen”.
“The combined efforts of everyone involved in the city’s development process made it possible to create a harmonious environment and engage every resident in managing their district. It is no coincidence that Moscow is now among the global leaders in various rankings,” Cheremin added.
Foreign participants of the plenary session shared their impressions of Russian megacities and their plans for cooperation. The Governor of Havana, the capital of Cuba, Yanet Hernández Pérez, spoke about specific projects:
“We are learning from you — how you develop the urban environment and what interesting architectural solutions can be observed here. In fact, this experience can be very beneficial for the residents of Havana. A group of students came from St Petersburg, and we can also send our students to you. Those who came to Havana visited various schools. They were told about our programmes and helped our schoolchildren. They brought very interesting ideas and gifts. We are delighted with such cooperation.
When I was preparing to travel to St Petersburg, my friends told me: ‘You will be amazed by this city.’ And they were right. We have some fascinating documents reflecting the ties between Russia and Cuba — a shared history that unites us.
We are ready to work with other cities, learning from you how you develop the urban environment, what interesting initiatives you introduce, and what architectural solutions we can observe. This is an experience that can truly help the people of Havana.”
The representative of India, President of Cosmos Group Mr Anil K. Agarwal, spoke about the extensive cooperation between countries within the BRICS association:
“There are now 15 of us, accounting for more than 30% of global GDP. Our common vision is to build a stable and prosperous future for India, China, Russia, Brazil, and all partner nations — a future based on the principles of equal partnership and strategic cooperation.
We are open to dialogue and ready to offer the full range of our capabilities for joint development. India, as an integral part of BRICS, will make every effort to strengthen and promote our association.”
Sheikh Dawood Al Shezawi, President of AIM Global Foundation (UAE) and member of the Organising Committee of the IMBRICS Forum, highlighted the key aspects most relevant to the development of municipalities worldwide:
“There are two crucial aspects — the power of artificial intelligence and the unique potential of each territory.”
Speaking about the rapid development of digital technologies, Irina Guseva, Co-Chair of the All-Russian Association for the Development of Local Self-Government, reminded participants of the importance of relying on human values:
“Indeed, in the age of digitalisation, one wishes to remain human — to serve people, to preserve values such as faith, hope, love, family, children, mother and father as unshakable foundations.”
The host of the IMBRICS Forum opening ceremony was musician and Moscow City Duma deputy Rodion Gazmanov, a member of the Duma Commission on Culture. Concluding the opening part, he performed the song ‘Russia’, which became a symbol of hospitality and unity of the world’s creative forces.
The plenary session was moderated by Ignaty Pavlov, General Director of the business daily Vedomosti.
The General Partner of the IMBRICS Forum 2025 is the Government of Moscow. The Forum is supported by the Federation Council, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, the Government of St Petersburg, the Moscow City Duma, the All-Russian Association for the Development of Local Self-Government, the Moscow Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs, and the Roscongress Foundation.
The General Media Partner is Vedomosti, and the Official News Agency is TASS. The Strategic Partner is Big Asia TV Channel.