Karaoke, dinners together and travel: guests on "Trust Without a Password" share family traditions at the National Centre RUSSIA

Love, respect, kindness and being there for one another are the foundations of a strong relationship, according to guests on the family talk show "Trust Without a Password", held as part of the III International Symposium "Inventing the Future". Journalist Laura Dzhugelia led the discussion on finding someone you connect with and keeping love alive amid digital and social change.

Svetlana Bondarchuk, an entrepreneur and creator of the programme "Sveta Around the World", admitted that on the day she met Sergei Kharchenko, she had decided to live alone for a while. She already had grown-up children, a job she loved and a lovely flat. That very evening, she met her future husband at a mutual friend's birthday party. Svetlana Bondarchuk said she found Sergei interesting, although she did not see him as a potential partner at first. She went for coffee with him the next morning. They bonded over the books and films they liked and their shared sense of humour. Today, they make "Sveta Around the World" together and are raising their son Pyotr. Their older children from their first marriages have become one big family.

"It was only Sergei's gentle approach and patience that allowed us to build a relationship without conflict between the families from our previous marriages. When adults can't agree, the children suffer. We now have a tradition of getting everyone together for dinner. We often go on holiday together with our older children, and people can't work out who's related to whom," said Svetlana Bondarchuk.

Director Sergei Kharchenko said the couple had been working together for eight years. They acknowledge that there is no dividing line between work and home for them, and that this is precisely what brought them together. Asked about passwords, both said they use the same passcode and never check each other's phones.

"I think the most important thing in a relationship is being able to listen to each other. Another important tradition in our family is giving our children a musical education. I went to music school, and now my daughter Yuna and my son Petya are learning music," said Sergei Kharchenko.

Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor, an orthopaedic surgeon and the first Malaysian citizen to travel into space as a space tourist, came to the talk show with his sons Sheikh Adam and Sheikh Noah. He said becoming a father had changed the way he weighs risks. Before taking any step, he thinks about who would look after his seven children. He supports whatever his children want to do, though he admits he would be happy if they all became doctors. He is strict with them and raises them with love. If they misbehave, he may take away their devices for a week.

"My wife and I try to act as a team, and we never argue in front of the children. Sundays are for spending time together as a family. In Malaysia, we attach great importance to education and careers, but the greatest success I want for my children is for them to be happy in life. They should enjoy what they do," emphasised Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor.

Anastasia Belyavskaya and Oleg Sidorov, the married couple behind the musical duo NANSI & SIDOROV, told the talk show audience that they met on 15 September 2017 on "The Voice", where Oleg worked as an arranger. A shared group chat, daily conversations and mutual interest brought them closer, and they gradually built a strong relationship. Oleg Sidorov would surprise his future wife when he met her at the airport. On her birthday, he sent her a song he had written at exactly 01:45, the time she was born. Today, the couple are raising their daughter Aya and have been travelling with her since she was four months old. Oleg Sidorov recalls the start of their romance with a touch of irony.

"Nastya laughed at my unfunny joke, and I thought, 'This is love.' We share every moment, at home and at work, and we're working towards the same goals," says Oleg Sidorov.

Anastasia Belyavskaya admitted that she looked through Oleg's social media profiles as soon as they met. She said they were lucky to find that they wanted the same things and lived at the same pace. She disagrees with the popular idea that everyone should be entirely self-sufficient. In her view, you can find in another person qualities you lack yourself.

"We dream of having at least two more children of our own. We'd love twins, a boy and a girl. We'd also like to adopt a child. I imagine our big, close-knit family gathering in our home when we're old," said Anastasia Belyavskaya, sharing her plans for the future.

At the end of the talk show, the musical duo launched a challenge inviting people to share stories about their family traditions. Anastasia Belyavskaya said her family gets together for karaoke on special occasions. Anyone can join in by sharing a post or video on social media about what brings their family together, whether traditions, recipes or hobbies, and using the hashtags #Creating_Traditions and #gowithRussia.

The family talk show "Trust Without a Password" is part of the III International Symposium "Inventing the Future", being held on 12–13 November at the National Centre RUSSIA. The Symposium has brought together more than 8,000 statespeople, scientists and researchers, heads of corporations and business alliances, representatives of the creative industries and public organisations, and young professionals from 109 countries. The programme is organised around three thematic tracks — "Human and Values", "Progress" and "Culture and the Arts". The main focus is on networking and building connections, as well as expanding the range of creative formats and formats for young people.