The President of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs and Chairman of the Russian Business Group B20, Alexander Shokhin, stressed that the effective approach on cooperation undertaken by the G20 under Saudi Presidency will contribute decisively to pressing global issues.
G20 cooperation looms over issues like addressing the coronavirus pandemic, saving the international economy, and helping poor countries.
Shokhin added that it also works on strengthening Saudi-Russian economic relations and simplifying international cooperation in various sectors of the global economy.
Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, the Russian diplomat noted that the G20 had unlocked better opportunities for cooperation between Russia and Saudi Arabia.
Despite all challenges that surfaced in 2020, the space for practical cooperation between Russia and the Kingdom is expanding, said Shokhin.
He mentioned a host of areas that are open for increased cooperation, and they included building on a circular carbon economy, investing in infrastructure, developing nature-based solutions, advancing digitization, and implementing comprehensive industrial modernization.
“I am sure that the new level of understanding that we have reached in our countries, despite all the challenges this year, will provide new opportunities for our practical cooperation in fields of common interest,” Shokhin asserted to Asharq Al-Awsat.
Regarding the expected plan for channeling G20 Summit results to benefit joint Saudi-Russian projects, Shokhin said it lies at the core of making use of multilateral institutions for international cooperation.
This, according to Shokhin, will reduce the risks of inappropriate and separate policies aimed at gaining unilateral benefits.
“Lessons learned and experiences gained this year will help find the best way to succeed at a time of fundamental change and challenges,” Shokhin said on the framework produced by the G20 2020 Riyadh Summit.
Shokhin also said he believes that the concept of the circular carbon economy developed by the Saudi Presidency at the B20 will lead to the sustainable development of the global energy sector, enabling a balanced and sustainable development of various sectors of the global economy.
