The Russian government decided to withdraw Moscow's application for the right to host the Expo 2030 exhibition, the Cabinet’s press service reported on Monday. Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin sent a letter announcing this decision to Dimitri Kerkentzes, Secretary General of the Bureau International Des Expositions (BIE), the intergovernmental organization in charge of overseeing and regulating World Expos, AzVision.az reports citing TASS.
"We regret to state that the international exhibition movement has become another victim of the desire of a number of countries to pursue a politicized line in an anti-Russian spirit. Taking into account the decisions made recently by the International Exhibitions Bureau, there is no need to expect an honest competitive campaign to choose the venue for the Expo-2030 World Universal Exhibition," the press service reported citing Mishustin's letter.
The Russian Prime Minister added that "by voluntarily making this difficult decision, the Russian Federation hopes that in the foreseeable future the global exhibition movement will return to its historical roots, when it was engaged in non-political and purely applied activities in the interests of economic development and the strengthening of international trade and economic cooperation".
