Russia Hosts Foreign Ambassadors of the Islamic Organisation for Cooperation

The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has hosted an informational meeting of the leadership of the Strategic Vision Group ‘Russia – Islamic World’ with the ambassadors of the member states of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). The meeting was co-hosted by Sergey Lavrov, Russia’s Foreign Minister, and Rustam Minnikhanov, of the Republic of Tatarstan, who also fulfils the role of Chairman of the Strategic Vision Group. The event was held in Kazan, the capital of Tatarstan, on Monday (April 21).

Members of the OIC include:

Africa: Algeria, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Gabon, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Togo, Tunisia, and Uganda.

Asia: Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brunei, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Malaysia, Maldives, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tajikistan, Turkiye, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, and Yemen,

Europe: Albania.

Americas: Guyana and Suriname.

Russia’s Muslim Population

Russia’s Muslim population are about 15% of Russia’s total population, amounting to about 22 million from a total population of 147 million. However, they represent the fastest-growing demographic amid an overall population decline. Several key areas of Russia are traditionally Muslim, including Kazan, in Russia’s Republic of Tatarstan, where the 2024 BRICS summit was held.

Russia has extensive trade with numerous Muslim countries, including Azerbaijan, Iran and Turkiye, and is fast developing bilateral relations with many more, especially in Africa. Within the BRICS group, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates are all Muslim nations. Russia’s 2023 trade with OIC countries increased by 30%.

The OIC represents a combined population of over 2 billion and a GDP (PPP) of US$24 trillion. The largest economy within this is Indonesia, while Qatar has the highest GDP per capita.

Sergey Lavrov addressed the OIC delegation as follows:

“Your Excellencies,

We are pleased to provide the opportunities at our disposal for meetings such as today’s dialogue, which has become a cherished tradition, and we intend to sustain it. Russia is the largest Eurasian power, and a civilisational state. Here, alongside Christians, Buddhists, and Jews, reside millions of citizens who profess Islam.

Our country has traditionally maintained trust-based and amicable relations with the Islamic world. We are united by much: a commitment to building a just multipolar world order founded on the principles of the UN Charter in their fullness and interconnectedness; respect for cultural and civilisational diversity; adherence in practice to the paramount principle of the sovereign equality of states; and Article 1 of the UN Charter, which demands respect for human rights irrespective of race, sex, language, or religion.

We are united in our conviction that no society should tolerate the imposition of alien values from abroad, which undermine historical roots, spiritual and moral foundations, and internal cohesion. We reject the pernicious practice of employing unilateral restrictive measures – so-called sanctions – against nations that pursue independent foreign and domestic policies grounded in national interests and traditions.

Russia places great emphasis on strengthening friendly ties with the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). I note with satisfaction that over nearly two decades of joint work since Russia obtained observer status at the OIC in 2005, we have achieved significant results.

A stable and trust-based political dialogue has been established on pressing issues of the international agenda. Collaboration in culture, education, and science is underway. Ties between regions and people-to-people contacts continue to broaden. Meetings of clergy, cultural figures, and youth help our friends in the Islamic world better understand life in modern Russia – and enable us to better comprehend the highly complex processes unfolding in the Islamic world.

The backbone in Russia-OIC relations is the Strategic Vision Group led by Head of the Republic of Tatarstan, Rustam Minnikhanov. This Group serves as an instrument for fortifying friendship, mutual understanding, and trust between Russia and the Islamic world. It is, in essence, a unique platform for inter-civilisational dialogue, aimed at safeguarding traditional spiritual and moral values and enhancing mutual understanding between the Russian Orthodox Church and Muslim organisations – and, more broadly, between the Russian World and the Arab-Muslim civilisation.

The development of ties with the OIC enjoys broad support across our nation. This process engages the government, parliament members, business communities, religious associations, youth organisations, and figures from science and culture. The contribution of authorities in Russian regions with historically Muslim populations is impossible to overstate.

In mid-May, Kazan will host the 16th International Economic Forum Russia – Islamic World: KazanForum. This flagship business event will provide fresh impetus to our trade and economic collaboration. A special session of the Russia-Islamic World Strategic Vision Group will be held on the Forum’s sidelines. The Russian Foreign Ministry is already providing, and will continue to provide, comprehensive support for the Forum’s organisation. We are mobilising backing through our diplomatic and trade missions.

We look forward to welcoming high-level delegations from your countries to the hospitable and amazing capital of Tatarstan.”

The key topic of the event was informing the ambassadors about the Group’s performance in 2024 and its prospects for the current year. Special attention was paid to the development of the North-South and East-West transport corridors, which are extending from North Africa into the Middle East as well as spurs into countries such as Iraq. These are capable of redistributing global logistics flows.

Next month’s KazanForum 2025 was also discussed, and will include exhibitions, round tables and business dialogues. Among these are the Russia Halal Expo, where products and services meeting Islamic standards will be presented, as well as a property exhibition aimed at attracting investment in the Islamic construction sector. These events can be expected to spur increased trade and investment between Russia and the Muslim world as Moscow seeks to partner with Muslim nations and expand its trade and investment relations.