Rais of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov met with participants of the 9th Forum of Young Diplomats from OIC Member States, highlighting youth diplomacy as a central pillar of the republic’s international engagement strategy. The meeting took place at the Government House of Tatarstan in Kazan.
In his address, Minnikhanov noted that the Young Diplomats Forum, held annually on the sidelines of KazanForum, has become a well-established tradition. Since its inception, the event has welcomed over 300 delegates from 40 countries. Kazan also hosted the Global Forums of Young Diplomats in 2022 and 2023, as well as the BRICS Summit last year. “Many of you and your colleagues played a key role in ensuring the high-level success of those events,” he told the attendees.
He emphasized that fostering youth diplomacy and expanding international youth cooperation remain among the top priorities of Tatarstan’s youth policy. The republic, he noted, has accumulated extensive experience in building dialogue with young leaders from Islamic countries, BRICS, and the SCO, particularly through the work of the Academy of Youth Diplomacy. “These platforms attract aspiring leaders from around the world to Tatarstan, both to study and to launch collaborative international initiatives,” Minnikhanov said.
He also highlighted the development of School Diplomacy Clubs under the “Movement of the First” initiative, which now links 60 Russian regions with partners in 24 countries. Another major event on the calendar is the Kazan Global Youth Summit, held annually in August. This year’s theme is “Shaping Personalities in a Changing World: Values and Career Paths,” with a special focus on emerging areas of diplomacy, including cultural and humanitarian dialogue, and preserving cultural identity in the era of globalization. Minnikhanov invited all forum participants to attend the upcoming summit.
In 2024, the International Relations Department of Kazan Federal University celebrated its 30th anniversary, with nearly 40 graduates currently serving in Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The theme of this year’s OIC youth forum is “Victory Diplomacy”, chosen in honor of the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Great Patriotic War. “This theme is both timely and deeply meaningful,” Minnikhanov said. “Diplomats played a crucial role in forging alliances and bringing the world together to defeat fascism. The memory of that victory is not just history—it’s a lesson for future generations.”
Representatives from Russia’s Foreign Ministry—including Konstantin Kolpakov, Head of the Department for Multilateral Humanitarian Cooperation and Cultural Relations, and Ekaterina Akopyan, Chair of the Council of Young Diplomats—also addressed the forum. They expressed gratitude to Tatarstan’s leadership for supporting youth initiatives and voiced optimism for continued cooperation.
Delegates from across the Islamic world also shared their remarks, including young diplomats from the UAE, Iraq, Sierra Leone, Kyrgyzstan, Iran, Turkmenistan, Indonesia, Guinea, Morocco, Turkey, Cameroon, Bahrain, and Oman.
Running from May 13 to 17, the 9th Forum of Young Diplomats from OIC Countries aims to strengthen regional cooperation, build trust among future diplomatic leaders, and promote long-term relationships between the OIC member states at both the national and sub-national levels. This year’s event brings together around 50 participants from 19 countries, including young foreign ministry staff, public officials, civil society representatives, and international experts.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: official website of the Rais RT
Based on materials from the Press Service of the Rais RT