An expert panel discussion “Humanitarian Diplomacy in a Multipolar World” was held on the sidelines of the #WEARETOGETHER International Forum at the National Center "Russia". Evgeny Primakov, Head of Rossotrudnichestvo, Alena Arshinova, First Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Education, Chairman of the Coordinating Council of "Eurasia" ANO, and Dmitry Ivanov, Director General of the World Youth Festival Directorate, discussed with representatives of international organizations how culture, education, science, and volunteering are becoming new tools for building dialogue and strengthening mutual understanding in a rapidly changing world.

Dmitry Ivanov, Director General of the World Youth Festival Directorate, spoke about the Summer Schools project, which the Directorate launched this year for various professional communities: for foreign government officials and parliamentarians at the "Senezh" Management Workshop; for Russian teachers at the "Mashuk" Knowledge Center; for journalists, bloggers and media specialists at the "Shum" ("Noise") educational Noise Center in the Kaliningrad region.

"Promoting the principles of humanitarian diplomacy has always been and continues to be a priority for the Directorate in all our projects, from thousands of festivals to specialized programs. In response to global challenges, we dedicate a separate area of the program to volunteering withing the framework of the International Festival of Youth, which will bring together 10,000 participants from 190 countries. Our goal is for every guest of the Festival not only to become inspired by the idea of volunteering but also to acquire specific skills that can help people," said Dmitry Ivanov, Director General of the World Youth Festival Directorate.

Evgeny Primakov, Head of the Federal Agency for the Commonwealth of Independent States, spoke about the current Russian internships both abroad and within the country. The program organizes educational events on separate tracks: for IT specialists, doctors, journalists, young politicians and representatives of other professions.

"Our main goal is to achieve joint development and progress. This is a fundamental principle of Russia's humanitarian policy, which manifests itself in various areas. Our core principle is partnership," said Evgeny Primakov, Head of the Federal Agency for Commonwealth of Independent States.

Alena Arshinova, First Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Education and Chairman of the Coordinating Council of “Eurasia” ANO, spoke about how the organization strengthens international relations and integration of post-Soviet countries by supporting the course of President Vladimir Putin and building bridges of friendship between representatives of different countries and cultures. Today, over 100,000 people from 30 countries of the world are in the orbit of “Eurasia” projects: from the CIS and Europe to Asia, Africa and Latin America. In addition, "Eurasia" works very actively with young people. Special projects help to break down stereotypes and form an impartial image of Russia. The youngest participants of "Eurasia" spend the summer relaxing by the sea. According to the "Territory of Childhood" program, about 2,000 children have already visited camps in the Krasnodar Territory and Crimea. And the international patriotic movement "Victory 9/45", created by "Eurasia" to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the Great Victory, united 500,000 people around the world.

"Our projects promote the Russian language and culture, preserve historical memory and traditional values, while respecting the identity of the peoples of the continent. At the initiative of President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov and with the support of President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin, a single educational space of the two countries is being formed. "Eurasia" ANO has been officially assigned to lead this work and scale the result to other countries on the continent," said Alena Arshinova, First Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Education, Chairman of the Coordinating Council of "Eurasia" ANO. The organizers of the Forum are the Federal Agency for Youth Affairs and Dobro.RF. Alfa-Bank JSC is the general partner of the forum, and Rosatom State Corporation is the strategic partner of the Forum.

Overview:

The World Youth Festival took place on March 1–7, 2024 in Sirius, according to the Decree of Russian President Vladimir Putin on the development of international youth cooperation. The WYF-2024 brought together 20,000 young leaders from 190 countries.

In accordance with the instructions of the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin on preserving and developing the legacy of the World Youth Festival, which took place on the Sirius Federal Territory in 2024 and united 20,000 young people from 190 countries of the world, festival events on the territory of the Russian Federation will be held annually. The next World Youth Festival for 20,000 participants will be held in 2030. In 2026, there will be a smaller event, an International Youth Festival with 10,000 participants. In between, the World Youth Festival’s themed Assemblies will be held annually for 2,000 participants.

The first World Youth Festival Assembly was held in Nizhny Novgorod from September 17 to 21, 2025 and brought together 2,000 young people from 120 countries. The World Youth Festival Directorate continues the work aimed at strengthening international youth cooperation.

The Fifth International Forum for Civil Engagement, #WEARETOGETHER, is Russia's annual flagship event in the field of civil society. From December 2-5, the forum brought together volunteers, civil society activists, businesses, and government representatives to create a movement to help people effectively. Within the framework of the forum, the winners of the #WEARETOGETHER International Award, the main award for social projects supported by the Russian President, will be announced. The founder is Rosmolodezh, and the organizer is Dobro.RF. Alfa-Bank JSC is the general partner of the forum, and Rosatom State Corporation is the strategic partner of the Forum.