The message reads, in part:
”Throughout the years of its existence, the Petersburg Dialogue forum has proved its efficiency and relevance in full. The participation of members, who represent a wide array of both Russian and German civil society, presents a good opportunity to address comprehensively many different issues of the bilateral agenda.
This year, the Forum is dedicated to a rather topical theme, the strengthening of trust and the spirit of partnership in relations between our nations and peoples. It is obvious that preserving and boosting the invaluable potential for mutual understanding, which Russians and Germans have developed for decades, serves as a major guarantee of the successful advancement of interstate dialogue and mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields.
I am certain that you will have a comprehensive and efficient exchange of opinions, one that will result in many interesting proposals and initiatives.“
The Petersburg Dialogue Russian-German Public Forum was established in 2001 at the initiative and under the patronage of Vladimir Putin and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder.