ST. PETERSBURG, Russia - The 22nd St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) opened here Thursday with senior officials and business tycoons meeting to seek cooperation.

Chinese Vice President Wang Qishan will attend the forum, which will run until Saturday in Russia's second-largest city.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, French President Emmanuel Macron, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund Christine Lagarde are also expected to speak at the annual event.

"This is a very representative forum where key problems not only of Russia but also of the world economy will be discussed," Russian First Deputy Prime Minister Anton Siluanov said at the opening ceremony.

Founded in 1997, the SPIEF 2018 under the theme of "Creating an Economy of Trust" is expected to attract about 15,000 participants from 70 countries.