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The message reads, in part:

“Thanks to an attractive and packed programme and representative format of participants, your forum has become a major event in the life of St Petersburg and the rest of Russia. It has also gained international recognition and prestige.

The main theme of the forum this year, Culture as the Country’s Strategic Potential, is especially relevant today. Culture has a major educational and unifying mission. It ensures an unbreakable bond between ages and generations. It promotes high moral and civil values, and it largely determines Russia’s standing in the world. This is why it is so important to create conditions for exposing our people to our rich cultural heritage and values.

I am confident that your forum will take place in a creative atmosphere and that its work will facilitate an open and constructive dialogue between the state and society on preserving our unique historical, cultural and spiritual legacy and strengthening international cultural cooperation. I also hope that this forum, with its interesting and instructive events, will be a very positive and unforgettable experience.”

The VII St Petersburg International Cultural Forum takes place on November 15–17, 2018. The programme is divided into a business and festival parts. The business part consists of 14 sections on museums, theatre, circus, cinema, literature, tourism, folk art, cultural heritage and other themes. This year, the status of guest countries was granted to Italy and Qatar, which have prepared special events.