International Media Forum “Russia – Turkey: 105 Years Plus” Held in Moscow
On April 22, 2026, the International Media Forum “Russia – Turkey: 105 Years Plus” took place at Moscow State Pedagogical University. The event was organized by the Moscow Union of Journalists, the Alexander Gorchakov Public Diplomacy Foundation, and MSPU, with information support from the Big Asia Media Group. The forum was timed to a significant historical milestone – the 105th anniversary of the signing of the Moscow Treaty of Friendship and Brotherhood between the RSFSR and Turkey, which laid a solid foundation for multifaceted cooperation.
Sergey Cheremin, Minister of the Government of Moscow and Head of the Department for External Economic and International Relations, took part in the official opening ceremony. In his speech, he detailed the dynamic interaction between the Russian capital and the Republic of Turkey. Cheremin noted that the ties are close and productive: at the end of last year, mutual trade turnover reached approximately $30 billion. Dozens of Turkish companies, including major developers, are successfully operating in Moscow’s economy.
The Minister paid special attention to the partnership with Ankara and other major Turkish cities, especially Istanbul. Sergey Cheremin emphasized: “Istanbul is very similar to Moscow in size, population, and development dynamics. Today, we are the two largest urban agglomerations in Eurasia. Together with Istanbul, we often promote various initiatives that are later supported by other world megacities.” He also noted that Moscow recently took an active part in the Heritage Istanbul exhibition dedicated to the preservation of historical and cultural heritage, where the Moscow booth was recognized as one of the best. Moreover, an initiative arose at the forum to hold the next Heritage Istanbul exhibition in the Russian capital.
According to Sergey Cheremin, another testament to strong humanitarian ties will be the imminent unveiling of monuments: a statue of Yuri Gagarin will be installed in Ankara, and a monument to the great Turkish poet Yunus Emre will be erected in Moscow. Expressing sincere gratitude to the Turkish leadership for its wise and balanced policy toward Russia, the minister concluded that, despite the complex international situation, ties between the two countries remain as strong and close as ever.
As part of the forum, a plenary session titled “Russia – Turkey: Political Dialogue and the Public Context of Partnership in the 21st Century” was held, along with thematic panels. Participants – journalists, media professionals, and representatives of the scientific and expert communities from both countries – discussed building a sustainable media partnership against disinformation, issues of mutual country images in the media, as well as cultural stereotypes and reality as a foundation for humanitarian and economic cooperation.