The 20th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum is underway in Russia. Over one thousand government and business leaders have met to discuss current global economic issues.

Russian President Vladimir Putin met with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in St. Petersburg, on June 16, 2016. (The Kremlin Photo)

Capitaliizing on the new global economic reality. Government and business leaders meet to talk about the new geo-economic dynamics and how to exploit advances in technology.

U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon addressed the opening ceremony. He called for closer inter-regional connectivity and said when it comes to trade and economic, it is always more important to break down barriers rather than build walls.

Topics are many, and participants are keen to find answers to questions like how to stimulate demand and seek growth as well as how to secure a more functional and effective international trade system.

Participants are eager to exchange ideas on a wide range of issues. These including the key priorities for emerging economies to ensure the effective regulation of financial markets, as well as how trade facilitation agreements can be implemented during the global economy's sluggish recovery.