The G20 Youth Summit, a key platform for dialogue between young leaders of the forum countries, was held in Johannesburg, South Africa, from August 18 to 22. Russia was represented at the event by Amina Khubiyeva, Head of the delegation, Chief Adviser of the Department of International Cooperation with Asian and African Countries of the World Youth Festival Directorate, as well as students from Moscow State University of International Relations (MGIMO) and ITMO University.
"The participation of the World Youth Festival Directorate representatives in the G20 Youth Summit is another important step towards strengthening global dialogue. In such an influential international arena, the voice of youth is gaining real power, and Russian initiatives are finding practical application in solving urgent global problems and issues. We see our mission as being the leaders of the ideas of the new generation, offering real solutions and consolidating the efforts of young leaders from all over the world to build a sustainable and equitable future. The G20 platform confirms that real change is born only in partnership, and young people are ready to be the driving force behind these changes," said Dmitry Ivanov, Director General of the World Youth Festival Directorate.
The summit was held under the theme "Youth for Global Progress: Uniting for Solidarity, Championing Equality, Driving Sustainability." The central topics of the forum were inclusive economic growth and employment; artificial intelligence, digital innovation, skills development and the future of work; youth participation in the reform of multilateral institutions of global governance for a fair future; inclusive social development and the fight against inequality.
During the Summit, delegates from Russia presented a number of measures aimed at developing affordable education and refugee protection, developing common standards for mining, as well as adopting a regulatory framework for the use of artificial intelligence.
Meetings with representatives of government authorities, youth and leading educational organizations of the Republic of South Africa were also held on the sidelines of the summit. Meetings were held with the representatives of the Department of Youth, Women and People with Disabilities, the South African Student Congress, the Universities of the Witwatersrand and Johannesburg, the Alumni Association of Soviet and Russian Universities, the League of Young Communists of South Africa. The discussion focused on issues of cooperation in the field of media and education, the participation of young people from Africa in the events of the World Youth Festival Directorate, international activities of Moscow State University of International Relations (MGIMO) and the possibility for African students studying at the Russian university. Following the meetings, representatives of South Africa expressed their willingness to form a pool of youth media experts to develop further partnership.
During the working trip, a representative of the World Youth Festival Directorate also visited Ethiopia, where she met with participants of the World Youth Festival Assembly, which will be held in Nizhny Novgorod from September 17 to 21, 2025.
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.
On the instructions of the President of the Russian Federation, the WYF will be held in Russia on a regular basis – once in six years. Also, every six years 10,000 young people from all over the world will get together at the International Youth Festival, and in between, international themed assemblies for 2,000 participants will be held under the auspices of the WYF. The first Assembly is scheduled to take place in September 2025 in Nizhny Novgorod. Festival events of various formats will be held in Russia annually.
According to the instructions of the President of the Russian Federation on the preservation and development of the Festival legacy, the World Youth Festival Directorate continues the work aimed at strengthening international youth cooperation.
