From May 22 to 23, 2025, the city of Banja Luka hosted the international scientific conference titled “Opportunities for Cooperation with BRICS+: The Russian Experience and the Serbian Concept.” The conference aimed to foster an interdisciplinary scholarly dialogue focused on analyzing the potentials for collaboration between BRICS+ countries and their partner states. Particular emphasis was placed on the roles of Serbia and the Republika Srpska in establishing new channels of communication and cooperation amid the ongoing transformation of the contemporary multipolar world order.
The event was organized by the Literary Association “Susret” (Trebinje), with the support of the Alexander Gorchakov Public Diplomacy Support Fund, the Presidential Fund of Republika Srpska, the Ministry of Scientific and Technological Development and Higher Education of Republika Srpska, the Center for Socio-Political Studies of Republika Srpska, the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Russian House in Belgrade, as well as a number of academic and institutional partners from Russia, China, Brazil, the United Arab Emirates, and the Balkan region.
The official opening ceremony took place on May 22 in the amphitheater of the Faculty of Political Sciences at the University of Banja Luka. The ceremony commenced with a welcoming address by Milana Babić, Chairperson of the Organizing Committee of the Literary Association “Susret” from Trebinje, who was the first to speak. In her remarks, she underscored the symbolic and conceptual significance of the forum, stating:
“Therefore, this conference is not merely an academic or political event but a symbol of a deeper process — a striving for balance in a changing world. The Republika Srpska thus makes a modest yet principled contribution to the construction of a more just and stable global order.”
Welcoming remarks were also delivered by His Excellency Igor Andreevich Kalabukhov, Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Bosnia and Herzegovina; Dr. Ekaterina Gennadievna Entina, Advisor to the Executive Director of the Gorchakov Fund, Professor at the National Research University Higher School of Economics, and Head of the Black Sea–Mediterranean Studies Department at the Institute of Europe of the Russian Academy of Sciences; as well as Associate Professor Dr. Željko Budimir, Minister of Scientific and Technological Development and Higher Education of Republika Srpska and Professor at the Department of Political Science at the University of Banja Luka. The opening program was enriched by performances of traditional Serbian and Russian folk songs by the ethno-group “Trag,” contributing to the creation of a solemn and amicable atmosphere befitting an international scholarly forum.
On May 23, the working sessions were held in the conference hall of the Bosnia Hotel, bringing together leading experts from Russia, China, Brazil, Serbia, Republika Srpska, North Macedonia, and other countries. Through two expert roundtables and a youth session, participants examined strategic, economic, political, and cultural dimensions of cooperation within the BRICS+ framework, with a focus on the significance of small states in shaping a sustainable multipolar world order.
The first panel, moderated by Professor Dr. Ekaterina Entina, convened leading specialists in international relations and development policy. During the discussion, Associate Professor Dr. Željko Budimir presented a report on countering neocolonialism in the BRICS+ context, highlighting opportunities to apply the Russian experience in defending the sovereignty and economic interests of Republika Srpska. Dr. Dmitry Suslov, Deputy Director of the Center for Comprehensive European and International Studies at the Faculty of World Economy and International Affairs of the Higher School of Economics (Moscow), elucidated the political significance of BRICS+ for Serbia and Republika Srpska, emphasizing prospects for strategic rapprochement within the emerging international relations system. Nikolay Yakushev, Research Fellow at the Vologda Scientific Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences and expert in international platforms including BRICS TV, analyzed new models of economic cooperation amid sanctions pressure, focusing on the adaptability and transferability of Russian experience to the Balkan region. Professor Dr. Shi Chi-Yu, Distinguished Professor and Director of the Center for Global South Studies at Tongji University (Shanghai), joined via videoconference, presenting China’s position on the transformation of the global architecture within BRICS+.
The second panel, aimed at exploring the concept of multipolarity from the perspective of the Global South, featured leading scholars from China, Brazil, and Serbia. Professor Dr. Dragana Mitrović (Faculty of Political Sciences, University of Belgrade), Chairperson of the Institute for Asian Studies, provided an analysis of China’s strategic vision within BRICS+ and its contribution to building a more inclusive and equitable global order. Paulo Nogueira Batista Jr., former Vice-President of the New Development Bank and Executive Director of the International Monetary Fund, discussed the economic alternative BRICS offers to the Global South. Professor Dr. Alexis Dantas (State University of Rio de Janeiro) presented Brazil’s development strategy and its correlation with BRICS+ initiatives. Professor Dr. Ekaterina Entina emphasized the importance of public diplomacy and the role of knowledge as a tool for international positioning, as well as the contributions of Serbia and Republika Srpska to the creation of international cooperation platforms. The final presentation of this session was delivered by Anastasia Kotova, Project Manager at the Gorchakov Fund, who introduced models of Russian public diplomacy and their application in fostering an open, inclusive dialogue within BRICS+.The panel discussion concluded with a presentation by Professor Janak Bachev, Doctor of Laws and Professor at the Faculty of Law of the International Slavic University in Macedonia. In his report entitled “The Political Significance of BRICS for Macedonia — Perspectives and Opportunities for Strategic Rapprochement to Protect National Interests,” he elaborated on the importance of the BRICS+ format for national policy and security priorities of North Macedonia.
The conference concluded with a youth roundtable showcasing project outcomes by young researchers from Russia, the Commonwealth of Independent States, Brazil, Egypt, Indonesia, Ethiopia, the United Arab Emirates, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, North Macedonia, and other Balkan and European countries. Youth research teams, guided by leading scholars and experts, presented their projects in thematic sessions, identifying current challenges and opportunities for global cooperation within the BRICS+ framework. The session was moderated by Professor Dr. Dragana Mitrović, who, in addition to her organizational role, served as scientific advisor to several research groups, providing methodological and expert support. A significant contribution to the discussion was made by Alexander Nadjarov, analyst at the Center for Mediterranean Studies at the National Research University Higher School of Economics in Moscow, who acted as a mentor and provided in-depth analytical commentary.
The involvement of young researchers from diverse cultural, academic, and geopolitical contexts served not only as a source of innovation and fresh analytical perspectives but also as a strategic foundation for building long-term networks of cooperation, knowledge exchange, and mutual trust. This process vividly illustrates the importance of intercultural dialogue and contributes to the formulation of a constructive multipolarity concept grounded in respect for diversity, equality, and joint resolution of global challenges.
The conference “Opportunities for Cooperation with BRICS+: The Russian Experience and the Serbian Concept” constitutes a significant contribution to deepening dialogue and strengthening cooperation between BRICS+ countries and their partners. Amid global transformations, the event provided a platform for exchanging key ideas and experiences, as well as developing new strategic partnerships. The active participation of young scholars and international experts laid the groundwork for sustainable and inclusive cooperation based on the principles of multipolarity and mutual respect.
