First Deputy Chairman of the Religious Board of Muslims of the Russian Federation, Director of the Center for Islamic Studies of St. Petersburg State University, Executive Secretary of the Muslim International Forum, Professor, Doctor of Theology Damir Mukhetdinov became a member of the Russian Coordination Committee of the Forum of Civil Societies of Russia and Germany "Petersburg Dialogue". The decision to include him in the committee was made by the Chairman of the Russian Coordination Committee of the Forum Viktor Zubkov, Special Representative of the President of the Russian Federation for Interaction with the Forum of Gas Exporting Countries, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Gazprom.

A Muslim religious figure is included in the Forum committee for the first time. Damir Mukhetdinov's work in the framework of the" Petersburg Dialogue " involves drawing the attention of the German public to the experience of integration and socialization of Russian Muslims, the development of interreligious dialogue and cooperation.
In 2001, at the initiative of Russian President Vladimir Putin and German Federal Chancellor G. Schroeder, the St. Petersburg Dialogue Forum was established. The main purpose of the Forum was to create a solid foundation for the formation and development of Russian-German relations through the expansion of cooperation between civil societies of both states. The creation of the Forum was facilitated by the strengthening of the Russian Federation's position in the international arena and the rapid development of a qualitatively new level of German-Russian relations.

The St. Petersburg Dialogue Forum is a free platform for discussing a wide range of issues of public life, including political, economic, educational, scientific, cultural, religious, informational and other aspects, and specifically topical issues of German – Russian relations. The main task of the forum is to establish a constructive dialogue between representatives of various spheres of public life of the two countries. Its implementation should contribute to the formation of a strong interstate cooperation that does not depend on the current political situation. In addition, within the framework of the St. Petersburg Dialogue Forum, joint projects are being implemented in different areas — from the economy and the media to the religious sphere. A important role in supporting the events of the Forum is assigned to St. Petersburg State University, whose specialists conduct scientific and analytical work in various humanitarian and social areas.The Rector of St. Petersburg State University, Nikolai Kropachev, is Deputy Chairman of the Russian Coordinating Committee of the Forum.