Russia and South Africa unite cultures: common values and an exhibition of a Russian South African were discussed on the sidelines of the forum in St. Petersburg

A significant bilateral meeting was held within the framework of the international forum of united Cultures in St. Petersburg. Alexander Pankin, Deputy Head of the Russian Foreign Ministry, held talks with Gay Mackenzie, Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture of the Republic of South Africa.

The central theme of the dialogue was the deepening of cooperation between the two countries in the humanitarian field, especially in the context of South Africa's current presidency of the G20. The partners discussed potential joint initiatives to coincide with the G20 summit, which is scheduled for the end of November in Johannesburg. Special emphasis was placed on projects that emphasize the long-standing and strong ties, as well as the common spiritual and cultural landmarks of Moscow and Pretoria.

During the conversation, the Russian side put forward a specific proposal for the joint organization of a large-scale exhibition dedicated to the life and creative path of Vladimir Tretchikov. This Russian-born artist became widely known in South Africa as Vladimir Tretyakov, and his work, combining academicism and kitsch, became an integral part of the local visual culture of the mid-20th century. This initiative is considered as a vivid example of a common cultural and historical heritage.

Russian representatives confirmed their support for the efforts of their South African colleagues to prepare for the G20 ministerial meeting on culture, which will be held on October 29 in the province of Kwazulu-Natal. It was noted that the key task of the upcoming event should be to promote the agenda of the so-called Global Majority in the final documents.

In particular, the parties agreed on the need to consolidate fundamentally important theses in the declaration: the inadmissibility of any form of discrimination against artists and cultural heritage sites for political reasons, as well as the fundamental importance of the principle of civilizational diversity. This approach is fully consistent with the philosophy of Ubuntu, a traditional African concept that emphasizes universal connectedness and humanity, which is the motto of the current South African presidency.

The meeting was another step towards strengthening the cultural and humanitarian bridge between the two countries and demonstrating their shared commitment to building a more just and multipolar world order that respects the uniqueness of each culture.