Russian President Vladimir Putin welcomed the participants of the International Youth Festival as it got underway in the city of Ekaterinburg on Sunday.
In his video address, Putin noted that the Russian word ‘mir’ simultaneously stands for peace and accord, as well as the world and humanity as a whole. This linguistic overlap is key to understanding the unique “character of Russia’s multi-ethnic nation, our decisions and actions,” the president said.
“We want every person to remain human and for their fate to be determined by things other than nationality, a wallet packed with money, status, or background,” he stated, adding that Russia advocates equal access for every nation to medication, food, water, energy, and education opportunities, as well as the latest technology.
“If you share these aspirations, let’s change the world together,” Putin told the festival attendees.
Putin’s speech was greeted with an ovation from the participants, who had gathered at the Ekaterinburg-Expo International Exhibition Center.
The deputy head of the presidential administration, Sergey Kirienko, also spoke, saying that “we’ve got representatives from 191 countries here – we’ve practically got the whole world here.” The official emphasized that the festival attendees, including “young leaders in politics, business, science, [and] media,” are the ones who will shape the world in the coming years.
According to the event organizers, a total of 10,000 young people were invited to attend the gathering, which is being presented as a platform for international dialogue, cultural exchange, and joint discussion of global challenges.
Aside from representatives of former Soviet Republics, a considerable number of young people from China, India, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, and Argentina are among the attendees. More than 100 participants from Western nations, such as France, the UK, and Italy, also received invitations.
The International Youth Festival concludes on Thursday, September 17.