Foreign affairs specialists of the new generation: digital diplomacy of the future was discussed at the RUSSIA EXPO

---

The "Space and Aviation" pavilion hosted a panel discussion entitled "Diplomat in the Digital Age: What Should a New Generation of Foreign Affairs Specialists Know and Be Able to Do?".

Representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia, MGIMO, Russian Society "Knowledge", N.E. Bauman Moscow State Technical University, as well as the V.P. Ivannikov Institute of System Programming of the Russian Academy of Sciences and the St. Petersburg Ilya Repin Academy of Arts discussed what knowledge, skills, abilities and competencies a foreign affairs specialist should possess in the conditions of digital transformation of all spheres of social life.

"Today it is difficult to imagine state administration and the sphere of international relations without digital technologies. This is our present, but even more so our future. We should treat digital technologies as an effective tool. We should not think that governance will eventually be taken over by artificial intelligence: in order for this not to happen, we need to launch processes related to the development of artificial intelligence and its use. The process of introducing AI should be accompanied by an understanding of what its use leads to," emphasized Anatoly Torkunov, Rector of MGIMO of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia, Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS).

Speaking about the opening of a new digital faculty at MGIMO, the rector noted that digitalization is in one way or another a part of the globalization process: "Globalization for a number of reasons, including geopolitical ones, has not only slowed down, but has broken into pieces. And it is very important that within the framework of the global process of digitalization we could feel very confident and safe, that we could dispose of all the tools of digitalization ourselves."

Maria Zakharova, Director of the Department of Information and Press of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, emphasized that diplomats should at all times and in any era have a basic knowledge of the history of their country and international relations. In addition, they need to be proficient in languages, know the traditions of those countries and regions in which they work.

"But the toolkit of a diplomat, a representative of a foreign policy department is changing. We understand very well that earlier correspondence was sent by messengers, couriers or pigeon mail. And then came the new technological era. Today it is really the synergy between humanities and technology, as exemplified by digital diplomacy and the digitalization of international relations. A diplomat should have the skill to use digital opportunities," Maria Zakharova noted.

In addition, the agreement on cooperation in education and research was signed between MGIMO of the MFA of Russia and Bauman Moscow State Technical University, as well as the agreement on cooperation between MGIMO of the MFA of Russia and St. Petersburg Ilya Repin Academy of Arts.