An expert session within the Open Dialogue project took place on September 5 at the National Centre “Russia” branch in Primorsky Krai. Authoritative international experts participated in the discussion on the transformation of trade and connectivity in the new reality. The event continued themes from the first Open Dialogue “Future of the World. New Platform for Global Growth,” held in April 2025 in Moscow.

Associate Professor Gulshan Sachdeva, at the School of International Studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University, stated during the Open Dialogue that today’s Global Majority countries are no longer the “Third World,” but rather new powerful centers of political, economic, and intellectual development.

“If we’re talking about the global majority and the Global South, the situation today is completely different. We have grown strategically, economically, technologically, and even intellectually. These countries now dominate and are likely to continue dominating in trade, investments, technologies, climate issues, and other areas. And even if you look just at BRICS—already now the GDP growth rate is 4%, and by 2030 this share will exceed 50%,” stated Gulshan Sachdeva.

Technological innovations (digital payments, AI) demonstrate the potential of Global Majority countries. But the key challenge is organizing joint architecture and connectivity infrastructure without Western dominance, emphasized the Associate Professor at the School of International Studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University.

He also noted that using institutions, trade mechanisms, and currencies as “weapons” erodes the stability of the world order. Gulshan Sachdeva is convinced that alternative solutions are needed within BRICS and beyond.

Western partners still maintain a sense of impunity and the role of sole decisive players, believes Victoria Panova, Head of the BRICS-Russia Expert Council, Vice-Rector of HSE University, and Russia’s Sherpa in the Women’s Twenty. According to her, the financial levers of Western institutions—the dollar payment system, London insurance structures, control over container shipping—effectively give them an advantage and the illusion of the right to conduct dialogue as masters.