ST. PETERSBURG, June 20. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin has met with Sheikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the national security advisor to the king of Bahrain, on the sidelines of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF).
The meeting took place immediately before SPIEF’s plenary session, as Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said at a briefing earlier.
As Russian Presidential Aide Yury Ushakov announced, the meeting’s main topic was the Middle Eastern escalation. In Bahrain, the sheikh is directly responsible for addressing regional crisis-related issues.
The escalation in the Middle East, triggered by Israel’s unjustified strikes on Iran, has hindered air links in the region. However, Bahrain, by sending its high representative, has underlined the importance of its participation in SPIEF and of talks with Russia as one of the leading global players.
The St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) is taking place on June 18-21. This year, the event is held under the theme "Shared Values: The Foundation of Growth in a Multipolar World." Thematic zones such as the ‘Territory of Innovation’ and the national brand space ‘Buy Russian!’ will operate at the Forum.
The program includes the SME Forum, the Creative Industries Forum, the Day of the Future International Youth Economic Forum, the Drug Security Forum, and the Roscongress Urban Hub discussion platform. As part of the cultural program, the Petersburg Seasons festival will be held, and the SPIEF Sports Games will take place.
The Roscongress Foundation is the organizer of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum. TASS is its information partner.