Maria Zakharova: the transition to alternatives to SWIFT is not so much a question of pragmatics as of survival

Earlier, during a speech at the "government hour" in the State Duma, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that diplomats continue to use the levers of economic diplomacy to the maximum.

"Could you reveal in a little more detail the content of this area of ​ ​ work of your ministry?," - asked the journalist of our publication.

Maria Zakharova pointed out that today, in the conditions of unprecedented sanctions restrictions, economic diplomacy is becoming one of the key priorities of the Russian Foreign Ministry. This work is aimed at promoting domestic business in foreign economic operations, defending national interests, initiatives beneficial for the country at the sites of international economic structures.

In particular, within the framework of the G20, the Russian Foreign Ministry is consistently promoting approaches to democratizing global economic governance in order to establish genuine multipolarity. Work continues with key international financial institutions such as the IMF and the World Bank, with a focus on depoliticizing their activities and increasing the weight of developing.

The main efforts are focused on deepening cooperation with friendly states in the EAEU, the CIS, the Asia-Pacific region in the Middle East, Africa and Latin America. On the agenda is the formation of new mechanisms of cooperation with them instead of those tools that the West has traditionally used to maintain and strengthen its dominance. Projects are being developed in energy, metallurgy, mechanical engineering and other areas.

The launch of new projects will help increase the need for Russian products, including non-resource and non-energy exports.

In the current geopolitical reality, in the context of the unstable development of trade and investment, the key action is the transition in mutual settlements with partners in national currencies, as well as the presence of a settlement infrastructure independent of the West.

"We are continuing to move from SWIFT to externally pressure-proof financial communication mechanisms. We are sure that not only our country, but also other states, of which there are few, are interested in the emergence of truly unbiased and independent sentiments in the West. For many, this is a question not so much of pragmatics as of survival, "the diplomat said.

The changes that have occurred over the past year in the field of logistics have led to a revision of Russian approaches to ensuring reliable methods of importing and exporting goods. In this context, Russian diplomats are paying close attention to the creation and development of promising transport corridors. These include the Northern Sea Route and the North-South International Transport Corridor.

Of course, there is also interaction with domestic business in close coordination with industry circles, financial and insurance organizations is improving interaction mechanisms to create new chains of "added value." One of the examples of actual coordination of cooperation is the Business Council under the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia, it holds regular meetings.

In the development of international cooperation, great attention is paid to exhibition activities. Active participation in the preparation of such events as SPIEF, WEF, Russian Economic Week, and so on.

Another question from the correspondent touched upon the concept of the global security initiative recently published by China. The document mentioned biological safety.

"What initiatives do you expect in this regard at the UN level?" - asked the journalist

Maria Zakharova indicated that it is too early to make conclusions, since the Russian Foreign Ministry is only studying this document. There are points that fully coincide with the Russian approaches in the field of biological safety, but it is too early to give more global comments at the moment.