Putin says Russia remains open to everyone ready to pursue equal and mutually beneficial cooperation

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday that Russia remains open to everyone who is interested in engaging with the country and is ready to pursue equal and mutually beneficial cooperation

Speaking at a plenary session of the 29th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) in St. Petersburg, Putin said Russia is "convinced that this particular approach where partners hear one another, understand their partners' interests, and identify common solutions represents a harmonious path of development and makes it possible to respond to the serious challenges facing the modern-day world."

Russia remains "open to everyone interested in engaging with our country and is ready to pursue equal and mutually beneficial cooperation," said Putin.

He emphasized that the world can only become more equitable when economic growth is distributed more broadly, and opportunities become available to billions of people who have long remained on the periphery of the global economy.

It is of crucial importance that new centers of economic growth seek to shape their own development paths, increase their share of value creation, and build their own brands, standards, and capabilities, Putin said.

He said the global trading system is becoming less West-centric, citing the growing role of BRICS countries in world trade.

According to the Russian president, international trade is becoming more efficient through the expansion of direct supplies without unnecessary intermediaries, the development of settlements in national currencies, and the opening of new logistics routes.

Held annually since 1997, the SPIEF has grown into one of Russia's most important international economic forums.

This year's event, running from Wednesday to Saturday, has brought together about 20,000 representatives from political, business and academic circles from more than 100 countries and territories.

Putin says Russia remains open to everyone ready to pursue equal and mutually beneficial cooperation

Putin says Russia remains open to everyone ready to pursue equal and mutually beneficial cooperation

Putin says Russia remains open to everyone ready to pursue equal and mutually beneficial cooperation

The Sixth "Racing to Space" Aerospace City Half Marathon was held in Beijing's Aerospace City on Saturday with more than 1,000 participants, most of whom are aerospace professionals and their family members, competing in the race.

The sporting event features competitions for 5K, 10K, and 21K.

"This time I accompanied my husband. He is also an aerospace professional, supporting our country's aerospace industry on the front line all along. Both of us participated in this 5-kilometer race and are very happy to win the finisher's medal," said Wang Siqi, a runner.

"I have been participating in the 5km race since the first edition of the Aerospace City marathon. My performance improved every time. I'm very happy," said Chen Xiaohang, another runner.

The "space-themed" half marathon coincides with China's recent launch of the Shenzhou-23 spaceship and the safe return of the Shenzhou-21 space crew, aiming to encourage the aerospace professionals to take up sports events more actively.

Sixth Aerospace City half marathon held in Beijing