Advisor to the President of the Russian Federation Anton Kobyakov chaired an interagency meeting in Moscow that focused on promoting the Russian youth agenda at large conventions, exhibitions, and international agencies. The meeting involved representatives of Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Federal Agency for Youth Affairs, Rossotrudnichestvo, the Centre for Support of Youth Creative Initiatives (Roskulttsentr), the Centre for Support of Young Specialists, the Presidential Directorate for Interregional Relations and Cultural Contacts with Foreign Countries, and the Roscongress Foundation. Participants discussed significant and targeted support mechanisms for ensuring comprehensive development of international cooperation and public diplomacy, representing Russian youth at a global level, intensifying contacts, and strengthening ties among public youth associations, and young leaders.      

In accordance with instructions of the Russian President, in 2017 the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum established a permanent youth platform. Besides, in recent years the youth agenda has been part of the business programme at other large international conventions and exhibitions, such as the Eastern Economic Forum, the Russian Energy Week, the Russian Investment Forum, the International Arctic Forum, as well as non-recurrent events in Russia. As the organizer of these forums, the Roscongress Foundation dedicates a single day of these events to youth agenda and invites students, young scientists, postgraduates, and activists to participate on a gratuitous basis.   

“It is crucial to involve the young generation in high-level international cooperation. The Roscongress Foundation has created a platform that unites young talents involved in various activities in the Friends for Leadership, an international pool of leaders and entrepreneurs. This association already involves young leaders from over 40 countries that team up in project groups on social entrepreneurship, technologies, sustainable cities, education, and sustainable development. Today, these efforts are in demand at international platforms around the world, including formats under the auspices of the UN,” shared Anton Kobyakov, Advisor to the President of the Russian Federation.    

Participants noted the need for further efforts under an umbrella brand that will be provided by the Roscongress Foundation.  Promotion of youth agenda at a global level has tested such formats as the First G8 Youth Summit in St. Petersburg (2006), the SCO Youth Council, participation in the World Festival of Youth and Students in Sochi (2017), etc. Participants agreed to enhance coordination of their efforts at forums’ youth track. The youth track is a format where young leaders develop their proposals for cooperation among youth associations from different countries and report on their initiatives to heads of state.