The «International Forum of Young Compatriots — an educational seminar on youth diplomacy» started in St. Petersburg. It is organized by the Association of NGOs «National Youth Council of Russia» with the support of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation, Administration of St. Petersburg and Moscow Technological University.
40 young compatriots from 35 countries: Abkhazia, Belgium, Bulgaria, Great Britain, Germany, Georgia, Israel, Jordan, Spain, Italy, Cyprus, China, Lithuania, Norway, Russian Federation, Romania, Singapore, Slovenia, Turkey, Finland, France, the Czech Republic, Estonia, etc. became the participants of the seminar. They all represent youth and student organizations and work in the field of public diplomacy and international youth cooperation.
The grand opening ceremony of the International Forum of Young Compatriots was held on November 27 in the Administration of St. Petersburg. Chairperson of the National Youth Council of Russia G. Petushkov, Senior Adviser of the Department for Working with Compatriots Abroad of the Russian Foreign Ministry A. Roskoshny, Head of the International Activities Department of the Federal Agency for Youth Affairs D. Ivanov, Adviser to the Head of the Primorsky District Administration I. Esipov, Project Leader L. Suvorova, etc. addressed guests and participants with welcoming speeches. The organizers also received welcoming letters from the State Secretary-Deputy Minister of Education and Science of the Russian Federation P. Zenkovich and the Head of the Federal State Budgetary Institution «International Youth Center» A. Lyubtsov.
The second part of the working day of the seminar was held in the Peter and Paul Fortress, where the panel discussion «Soft power as a resource of Russia’s foreign policy», as well as the working session «The project of creating a network of young compatriots living abroad» took place.
The forum will continue its work until November 29. The program includes working sessions, panel discussions, a lecture «Foreign Policy of the Russian Federation: Features and Prospects», work in groups in three areas: «Young Compatriots Net», «Information Portal of Young Compatriots», «Preservation of 19th WFYS heritage», etc.
It is to be noted that the key objectives of the seminar are the consolidation of young compatriots living abroad; coordination of activities of public associations and organizations of young compatriots living abroad; development of ties and contacts between associations and organizations of young compatriots and Russian youth associations and organizations; formation of a common cultural, information and educational space for Russian youth abroad in the interests of strengthening the community, preserving ethnic identity, national and religious identity, spiritual and cultural heritage of Russia and strengthening its international positions.
