On November 24, 2021, the The Group of Strategic Vision “Russia – Islamic World conducted an external meeting in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The discussion was mostly devoted to dialogue and cooperation prospects.

The meeting was attended by His Royal Highness Prince Khalid Al-Faisal, Advisor to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, Governor of Makkah Al-Mukarramah, President of the Republic of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov, Permanent Representative of Russia to the OIC Ramazan Abdulatipov, deputy chairman of the Russian Religious Board of Muslims and the Russian Muftis Council Rushan Abbyasov, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the KSA Walid Bin Abdul Karim, Chairman of the Council of the Islamic Culture, Science and Education Foundation Evgeny Eremin, head of the Permanent Secretariat of the Africa-Russia Partnership Forum, Ambassador-at-Large of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Oleg Ozerov, Minister of Wakf of Egypt Muhammad Mukhtar Juma, Grand Mufti of Egypt Dr. Shawki Ibrahim Allam, Chairman of the Supreme Islamic Council of Bahrain Sheikh Abdurahman bin Rashid Al Khalifa, leaders of the Muslim World League, Secretary General of the World Forum for Proximity of Islamic Schools of Thought Hamid Hawali Shahriyari, representatives of government agencies, international NGOs, oriental scholars, diplomats, journalists and religious figures.

Prince Khalid Al-Faisal was the first to address the guests and participants. His Highness placed special emphasis on the importance of consolidating the efforts of Russia and the Islamic world for a timely response to current challenges and problems. He also noted that Russian-Saudi diplomatic relations have passed the 95-year mark and have acquired an additional creative impulse, which is proven by regular state and public meetings, agreements, and strengthening of the partnership between the two states.

The President of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov conveyed the greetings from the Russian President Vladimir Putin and noted that Russia, and Tatarstan in particular, can serve as a great example of good neighbourliness between representatives of different nations and religions.

The Chairman of the Religious Board of Muslims of the Russian Federation and the Russia Muftis Council, Mufti Sheikh Ravil Gainutdin, addressed the participants with a video message. He mentioned that Vladimir Putin's visit to Saudi Arabia and the visit of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques His Majesty King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud to Moscow, which demonstrated the level of trust between the leaders of our states and the global nature of the issues raised, launched a response in the Islamic world. The Mufti also noted that Russia's relations with the countries of the Islamic world demonstrate the relevance of the work of the Group of Strategic Vision.

"I would also like to emphasize the special role of the Russian Muslim Ummah and the regions with prevailing Muslim population in establishing contacts and organizing public diplomacy" said Mufti Sheikh Ravil Gainutdin in his address.

Rushan Abbyasov, deputy chairman of RBMRF and RMC, also addressed the participants, sharing his experience of implementing interfaith projects in Russia. He noted that for more than a thousand years there have been no religious  conflicts in Russia, and representatives of different confessions coexist peacefully. He also added that since the early 90s Muslims in Russia, as well as representatives of other religions, have been actively involved in establishing institutions for interfaith cooperation, such as the Interfaith Council of Russia, whose work is fully supplemented by the Council for Cooperation with Religious Associations under the President of the Russian Federation.