“Despite all the attempts of the collective West to isolate Russia, it has not succeeded. A great example of this is the participation of representatives of more than 80 countries in the international economic forum KazanForum”, said the head of Tatarstan, chairman of the strategic vision group “Russia – Islamic World” Rustam Minnikhanov.

The meeting of the group is taking place on Friday in Kazan as part of the KazanForum international economic forum.

“Today our common home is going through a difficult period. There is a complex process of forming a multipolar world… Despite all attempts, it has not been possible to isolate Russia. This is exemplified by representatives of more than 80 foreign countries who came to Tatarstan to participate in KazanForum,” Minnikhanov said at a meeting of the Russia-Islamic World strategic vision group.

According to the Tatarstan leader, the collective West sees in Russia, its civilized role and independent foreign policy a real counterweight to Western hegemony. “That is why the United States and its allies used the actions of the Russian Federation in the Ukrainian direction as a pretext for a new round of Russophobia, imposed sanctions against us and unleashed a hybrid war,” he emphasized.

Minnikhanov noted that “in these difficult conditions Russia continues to pursue a line on building a multipolar world. Islamic states are becoming more and more sought-after and reliable partners, Russia seeks to strengthen comprehensive mutually beneficial cooperation with the member states of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.”

“An important factor in further strengthening our relations is not only the coincidence or proximity of approaches to the key problems of world politics and economy, but also the commonality of moral values,” the head of Tatarstan added.

The Russia-Islamic World Strategic Vision Group was established in 2006 under the leadership of Yevgeny Primakov and Mintimer Shaimiev as a consultative body to expand cooperation between Russia and Islamic countries in all areas. Between 2006 and 2009, the group held five meetings in Moscow, Kazan, Istanbul, Jeddah and Kuwait. In 2014, Russian President Vladimir Putin authorized Mr. Minnikhanov to head the strategic vision group and resume its activities. Currently, the group includes more than 50 people from 28 countries, and includes former high-ranking leaders, representatives of science and the public, business circles, and religious figures (of Islam and Eastern Orthodoxy).