On the sidelines of the PATA Travel Mart 2026 international travel trade exhibition, the Russian delegation of the World Youth Festival Directorate (WYFD) held several meetings in Malaysia with the representatives of government bodies, youth organizations, and the tourism industry. Key topics were preparations to the International Festival of Youth (IFY – 2026), to be held from September 11 to 17, 2026, as part of the Youth and Children national project, as well as the development of the international youth cooperation and the creation of new travel opportunities for young people across Russia.
Meetings were held in Kuching with Abang Zohari Tun Openg, Premier of Sarawak, and Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts of Sarawak. The Russian side presented IFY – 2026 and a new travel model for Russia, which combines experiencing the country and its regions, visiting universities, and interacting with Russian youth, entrepreneurs, volunteers, and creative industry representatives. Under this model, the WYFD is responsible for attracting and selecting foreign participants, while the Federal Agency for Youth Affairs’ (Rosmolodezh) More Than Trip program handles the implementation of routes across Russian regions.
At the Discover Russia booth, the delegation held negotiations with tourism industry representatives from India, China, Australia, Indonesia, Romania, France, Canada, Spain, Turkey, the Republic of Korea, and the Philippines. Ekaterinburg – the host city of IFY – 2026 – drew particular interest from the international guests.
In Kuala Lumpur, a meeting was held between representatives of the WYFD and the More Than Trip program and Dato’ Rahimi bin Ismail, Malaysian Secretary‑General of the Ministry of Youth and Sports. The participants presented IFY – 2026 and discussed the creation of a youth exchange program based on the tourism project, as well as the development of youth networks, bilateral mobility, and leadership and professional opportunities.
“Russia and Malaysia have good potential to establish a dedicated youth exchange program. This format will allow young people from our countries to share experiences, develop new competencies, gain a deeper understanding of each other’s cultures, and forge new international ties,” said Dato’ Rahimi bin Ismail, Malaysian Secretary‑General of the Ministry of Youth and Sports.
Following the talks, a meeting was held with Alexey Sapozhenkov, Counsellor‑Envoy of the Russian Embassy in Malaysia, during which views were exchanged on the further development of cultural and humanitarian cooperation in the youth sphere. He was briefed on the IFY – 2026.
“Against the backdrop of steadily growing Russian‑Malaysian relations, which are receiving an additional boost from active high‑level political dialogue, advancing the cultural and humanitarian track – particularly the youth dimension – is an important area of bilateral ties,” said Counsellor‑Envoy Alexey Sapozhenkov.
He also noted that 2027 will mark the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Soviet Union and Malaysia, which were set up on April 3, 1967. In his view, it is symbolic that a new phase in youth cooperation is beginning on the eve of this date.
A meeting was held at the office of the Malaysian Youth Council with representatives of the Council, the Youth Hostels Association, and travel companies. Participants discussed institutional cooperation, the development of youth tourism and mobility, and the implementation of cultural initiatives and joint projects.
“The combination of youth exchanges, cultural acquaintance, and travel across Russia appears to be a promising format. Importantly, it is not just about tourism, but also about direct interaction with Russian youth, sharing experiences, and launching joint initiatives,” noted Hamirul Idzwan bin Hamizan, President of the Malaysian Youth Hostels Association.
Muhammad Syahmi Shamsudin, a representative of the Malaysian Youth Council, noted that his side is interested in making cooperation between the youth of Malaysia and Russia long‑term and practice‑oriented. In his opinion, youth exchanges, joint initiatives, and travel could form the foundation for lasting ties between the younger generations of the two countries.
Overview:
The International Festival of Youth will take place in Ekaterinburg from September 11 to 17, 2026, as part of the Youth and Children national project. The decree establishing the international youth event was signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin on December 29, 2025.
The Festival will be held under the motto "Follow Your Dream" and will bring together 10,000 young leaders from 191 countries. Participants will include 5,000 Russian citizens and 5,000 foreign nationals, including 1,000 teenagers aged 14 to 17.