These days, the Russian city of Saint Petersburg is hosting the International Municipal BRICS Forum 2025-a large-scale communications and business platform for the exchange of best practices between representatives of regional and municipal authorities of BRICS+ countries and simply friendly countries of Russia.

Today, approximately 5,000 participants from more than 70 countries gathered in Russia’s “northern capital.” These included heads of regions and regional parliaments, mayors of major cities from South America, Africa, Eurasia and Southeast Asia, senior officers of ministries and agencies, representatives of business and scientific circles, major commercial companies, investment funds and banking institutions. In total, the BRICS Municipal Forum opened its doors to 2,000 cities and regions from around the world.
Opening the BRICS Municipal International Forum, St. Petersburg Governor Alexander Beglov stated: “Today, we are ready to share our best practices and eagerly discover the best that our friends from the BRICS countries have created at the municipal level. Our forum has a proud history; it was founded in 2018 at Russia’s initiative. Since then, it has significantly expanded and become a major international event.”
The business program of BRICS Municipal International Forum consists of 15 practice-oriented tracks that reflect virtually all areas of societal development in the modern world. These include high-tech clean manufacturing, digitalization and AI, healthcare and social services, development, urban planning and infrastructure.
Experts highly praise the forum. For example, Iranian political expert Saeed Khavarinejad told the newspaper “Diyarmirza”: “The BRICS Forum in St. Petersburg is not just a diplomatic event, but also a dynamic and effective communications platform in the system of global urban and regional governance. Held under the auspices of a wide range of key institutions of the Russian Federation, the forum’s main goal is to facilitate the exchange of best practices, innovative technologies and effective solutions for enhancing the dynamism of urban and regional life. Our participation might serve as a lever for Iran’s deeper integration into global and regional economic and technological networks.”
In turn, Neri Iacopetta, Ambassador of the BRICS Municipal International Forum to Argentina, emphasized in an interview with La Letra Chica: “The presence [in St. Petersburg] is not a symbolic act, but a long-term political construct. Through a rich program of bilateral meetings and institutional presentations, the Argentine mission will strive to strengthen its position within the BRICS forum and reaffirm its conviction that the future of development depends on cooperation between the peoples of the Global South.”
Finally, Frédéric Michel Auguste Calmels, a French citizen and renowned French chef at the BRICS Municipal International Forum admitted that he moved to Moscow specifically to combine French and Russian cuisine. “When working on recipes, I seek out the deep meanings of the connection between France and Russia. It’s important for me to share my experience with Russian chefs, as this creates an additional connection between our cultures,” Calmels said, speaking at the BRICS Municipal International Forum session “Russian Cities Through the Eyes of Foreigners: Living, Working and Relaxing.”
Thereafter, the example of the BRICS International Municipal Forum makes it clear that Europe, having “isolated” Russia in its media, has in fact surrounded itself with an iron curtain, through which the European pragmatic professionals are forced to navigate (not without risk to themselves!).