The letter, from the Prime Minister of Russia, Mikhail Mishustin, was handed to the Secretary General of the BIE, Dimitri S. Kerkentzes, by the Deputy Minister of Economic Development, Aleksey Gruzdev, and the Ambassador of Russia to France, Aleksey Mechkov.

Russia’s candidature is based on the theme “Human Progress. Shared vision for the World of Harmony”, and if successful, the Expo would take place in Russia’s capital, Moscow, between 27 April and 27 October 2030.

As this is the first candidature submitted to the BIE to host World Expo 2030, a six-month countdown is now enacted during which all other countries wishing to organise World Expo 2030 may notify the BIE of their candidature. At the end of this candidature phase – on 29 October 2021 at 5pm CET – the BIE will close the candidate list.

Once the list is closed, the project examination phase of the candidature process will be launched, during which each candidate will submit a detailed candidature dossier. The BIE will then organise Enquiry Missions and assess the feasibility and viability of each candidature project. The host country of World Expo 2030 will then be elected by the 169 Member States of the BIE gathered in a General Assembly.

The Secretary General of the BIE, Dimitri S. Kerkentzes stated: “By receiving this candidature from the Russian Federation, the BIE is pleased to launch the World Expo 2030 candidature process, with the candidature phase to remain open for six months. As Expo 2020 Dubai gets ready to open this year, and with preparations for Expo 2025 Osaka Kansai well underway, the interest in World Expo 2030 is a strong signal that humanity is always looking ahead to the future with a sense of optimism and progress. This passion and drive testify to the appetite, felt around the world, for meaningful and shared experiences that bring us closer.”

Russia is an active and engaged Member State of the BIE and participates regularly in World and Specialised Expos; its participation has been rewarded on several occasions including at World Expo 2010 Shanghai and World Expo 2015 Milan.

World Expos, officially known as International Registered Exhibitions, are global gatherings of nations addressing universal challenges of our time. These unparalleled global events offer a journey inside a chosen theme through engaging and immersive activities. Taking place every five years and lasting up to six months, World Expos welcome tens of millions of visitors, allow countries to build extraordinary pavilions, and transform the host city for years to come.

The next World Expo will take place in Dubai (UAE) under the theme “Connecting Minds, Creating the Future” between 1 October 2021 and 31 March 2022, and the following one will take place in Osaka, Kansai (Japan) under the theme “Designing Future Society for Our Lives” between 13 April and 13 October 2025.