Representatives of the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) assessing Russia’s bid for World Expo 2025 have completed the Enquiry Mission after visiting candidate city Ekaterinburg and the capital, Moscow.

President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin receives BIE Enquiry Mission in Moscow. Credit: The Kremlin

The Enquiry Mission arrived in Russia on Monday, 2 April for a three-day programme during which they met with political leaders, learnt more about the Expo project, and exchanged with key figures involved in the Expo project and the development of its theme, “Changing the World: Innovations and Better Life for Future Generations.”

Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Dmitry Medvedev receives BIE Enquiry Mission in Moscow

In Ekaterinburg, the Enquiry Mission received detailed presentations of the bid project and were given a tour of the proposed Expo site, located next to the Verkh-Isetsky pond, close to the centre of Ekaterinburg. The BIE delegation were also given a tour of the Yeltsin centre and were presented with the development plans of the Koltsovo airport.

Demonstrating the broad level of local support for the bid, the BIE delegation was received by the Governor of the Sverdlovsk region, Evgeny Kuyvashev, on 3 April. During this reception, members of the Enquiry Mission had the opportunity to exchange with local politicians, representatives of local business, science and environmental organisations, as well as key civil society figures.

Reiterating national support for the Expo bid, the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, met with members of the Enquiry Mission in Moscow on 5 April. The delegation also held meetings with the Prime Minister, Dmitry Medvedev, the Chairman of the State Duma, Vyacheslav Volodin, and the Chairperson of the Federation Council of the Russian Federation, Valentina Matvienko.