MOSCOW, August 28. /TASS/: Discussing Russia’s potential comeback to the Group of Eight (G8) is "a small, yet important" signal for business, AmCham (American Chamber of Commerce) President Alexis Rodzianko told TASS.
"I can say that from the standpoint of business, the fact that discussions started on the possible return of Russia to the G8 is a positive signal in itself," Rodzianko said.
"Certainly, there are many problems in relations between countries in the world, not only between Russia and the G7, but also between the countries within this group. We feel that it is important that this small, yet positive signal appeared. The G8 is an important venue for negotiations, bringing together important people, and therefore it would be good for Russia to participate in it," the AmCham president stated.
Stance on the idea of a joint team of corporate leaders
Russia and the United States keep interest in the idea of creating a joint team of captains of industry, AmCham President Alexis Rodzianko told TASS.
"The topic of forming a joint team of corporate leaders was expressed in Helsinki for the first time but without any details, without infrastructure, and without proposals of what to do and who will be invited and where. Certain other events occurred later on, which postponed consideration of this matter; certain political events interfered. Nevertheless, the topic still exists. As far as I understand, both sides have interest in it, the US and the Russian ones," Rodzianko noted.
Russia and the United States can initiate discussion of establishing a working group of industry leaders in AmCham, the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs, the Foreign Investment Advisory Council or the US-Russia Business Council, he said.
"The business of two our countries continues interacting, continues cooperating in any case. The whole range of floors is present that promote dialogue and trade and economic cooperation between the two countries, including the American Chamber of Commerce, the US-Russia Business Council, the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs, and the Foreign Investment Advisory Council, where the business and the government communicate. I think the specific discussion of setting up a working group of captains of industry will be initiated on the basis of one or several of these already operating platforms," the AmCham President commented.
Presidents of Russia and the United States agreed to set up a working group involving "business captains" of both countries for the development of economic cooperation, Russian president Vladimir Putin said last July.
Possible reinstatement of G8 format
US President Donald Trump said earlier that he considered it useful to invite Russia to the next summit in the United States but expressed doubt that other members of the G7 would agree to this. French President Emmanuel Macron noted that since it will be chairing the next summit, the US may invite Russia as a guest but the issue of reinstating the G8 is not on the agenda now.
Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Moscow considered it impossible to reinstate the G8 format until G7 member countries reach a consensus on this issue.
The Group of Seven (G7) is an association of industrialized countries that brings together the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Canada, the United States, France and Japan. In 1997, it was renamed the Group of Eight (G8) after Russia joined the association. In 2014, Western countries decided to return to the G7 format following the developments in Ukraine and deterioration of relations with Russia.
