Member Corner
5 June 2026- Moscow, Russia. On the sidelines of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) 2026, H.E. Dr. Philip Mshelbila, Secretary General of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF), held a series of high-level meetings with the Russian Federation, reaffirming the strong partnership between Russia and the GECF and advancing preparations for the 8th GECF Summit, which will be hosted in Moscow on 27 October 2026.
The Secretary General met with H.E. Sergey Lavrov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, who conveyed a message from H.E. Vladimir Putin, President of the Russian Federation, welcoming the forthcoming Summit. Discussions underscored the GECF’s role as the premier platform for cooperation among natural gas producing countries and highlighted the importance of international collaboration in promoting energy security.
Dr. Mshelbila also held bilateral meetings with H.E. Alexander Novak, Deputy Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation, H.E. Sergey Tsivilev, Minister of Energy of the Russian Federation, and H.E. Viktor Zubkov, Special Representative of the President of the Russian Federation on Cooperation with the GECF and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Gazprom. The exchanges focused on developments in global energy markets and the strategic role of natural gas in the global energy mix.
The programme also included meetings with H.E. Alexey Miller, Executive Director and Deputy Chairman of the Board of Directors of Gazprom, and Mr. Anton Kobyakov, Adviser to the President of the Russian Federation and Executive Secretary of the SPIEF 2026 and 8th GECF Summit Organizing Committees. The Secretary General’s programme included a tour of the iconic Lakhta Center and a visit to the historic Yusupov Palace, highlighting the rich cultural heritage, distinguished architecture and enduring historical legacy of St. Petersburg.
As the Russian Federation advance preparations for the 8th GECF Summit, these engagements provided further momentum to this landmark gathering, underscoring its importance in shaping global gas cooperation and the future of energy security.