Eurasian Synergy
Today, the Yekaterinburg-EXPO International Exhibition Center hosted the grand opening of the 16th Eurasian Economic Youth Forum, whose theme was "Eurasian Synergy: Ethnic Unity of Russia in the Era of Global Change." The forum brought together over 24,000 people from 117 countries, including schoolchildren, students, young scientists, diplomats, rectors and vice-rectors of Russian and CIS universities, and representatives of leading media outlets from several countries.
Thousands of spectators were greeted by Yakov Silin, acting rector of Ural State University of Economics, president of the Ural Branch of the Free Economic Society of Russia, and Chairman of the Yekaterinburg Public Chamber.
He said: “In our time, when political and economic instability is growing worldwide, when some nations are losing themselves in civil strife, while others are dissolving in the chaos of globalization, Russia remains a unique historical phenomenon. Our country is not just a state. Russia is a civilization! Here, every people, religion, and culture retain its distinctive identity, harmoniously complementing one another. The secret of Russia's strength is simple and profound, as President Vladimir Putin rightly emphasized: ‘We are a multinational and multi-confessional country. But as long as we feel like one family, we are invincible. This is our strength, which no one can overcome. No one!’ The Russian language has become the common heritage of all the peoples of Russia and the core of Russian civic identity. Shared historical victories, hardships suffered, and traditional values shared by all the peoples of Russia have formed a unique community capable of compassion, love, and joint creation. It is deeply symbolic for us that the 16th Eurasian Economic Youth Forum is being held at the Year of Unity of the Peoples of Russia. I would especially like to address the youth! Your scientific and creative research is a powerful and pragmatic response to any attempts to hinder development. You are the ones who will turn ideas into reality, and dialogue into synergy. I am pleased that the forum participants—scientists and experts, young researchers, specialists and practitioners, representatives of the business community, and, of course, government agencies—will discuss the timely, highly important, and exceptionally relevant topic of Eurasian synergy considering the unity of the peoples of Russia in an era of global change. Dear friends, guests, experts, and forum participants, today we are shaping a new reality! I wish everyone success, wonderful experiences, and new joint achievements!”
Vasily Dogdaev, assistant to the Presidential Plenipotentiary Envoy to the Urals Federal District, welcomed the guests and participants of the 16th EEYF on behalf of the Presidential Plenipotentiary Envoy to the Urals Federal District: “The scale of the forum is impressive! All EEYF events bring together the economic communities of different countries. Importantly, the forum extends far beyond a single venue and is held simultaneously in Russia and abroad, strengthening humanitarian and educational ties across the Eurasian space. Yekaterinburg is becoming a magnet for talented, proactive, and engaged young people from Russia and dozens of countries worldwide. Organized by Ural State University of Economics, the forum has rightfully established itself as a reputable international platform for open dialogue, knowledge interchange, and the development of joint solutions on key development issues in the modern world."
On behalf of the Governor of the Sverdlovsk region, Deputy Governor of the Sverdlovsk region and Minister of Health of the Sverdlovsk region, Tatyana Savinova, addressed the guests of the forum: “The tradition of holding this event in Yekaterinburg was not born by chance. Our region is in the very heart of the Eurasian continent, at the geopolitical and cultural hot spot of two continents. This determines the global nature of the event. The Sverdlovsk region is a multinational area, home to over 120 nationalities. This diversity creates a natural environment for interethnic dialogue and serves as a living example of harmonious coexistence.”
Yevgeny Starkov, Chairman of the Legislation and Public Safety Committee under the Legislative Assembly of the Sverdlovsk region, noted that over the past 15 years, the Eurasian Economic Youth Forum has made a significant contribution to the development of youth movement: “The Forum has had a significant impact on strengthening international processes in the Eurasian region. It has enabled direct contacts between universities, student communities, and young entrepreneurs. The participants of previous forums are now successfully implementing international projects, working in industry and science, business, and public administration. Many of them have found mentors and like-minded people here. Today, 260,000 students are studying at universities, colleges, and technical schools in the Sverdlovsk region, over 10,000 of whom are foreign citizens.”
Marina Fadeeva, Deputy Mayor of Yekaterinburg and Chief of Staff of the Yekaterinburg Administration, addressed the EEYF participants on behalf of the Mayor of Yekaterinburg: “We are holding all events, including this forum, to improve the quality of life of the people who live in our cities. And this applies to all international activities. EEYF is a forum about the unification of 117 countries, it is about uniting young people, those who are the future of our cities, regions, and countries.”
Metropolitan Yevgeny of Yekaterinburg and Verkhoturye is attending EEYF for the fourth time: “I am glad to be with you today, with those who will shape the future of our vast Eurasian space. I wish you all the best and good results upon the conclusion of our forum!”
The forum participants were welcomed by Dmitry Birichevsky, director of Department of Economic Cooperation under the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Waleed Hamed Shiltagh, head of the Arab League office, Khalid Abdullah Shawabkah, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan to the Russian Federation, Sergei Bodrunov, president of the Free Economic Society of Russia, Academician Valery Chereshnev, deputy president of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Chairman of the Joint Academic Council of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences for Medical Sciences.
Many countries have been collaborating with USUE within the Eurasian Economic Forum for several years. University rector Yakov Silin presented the award “For Long-Term Cooperation with EEYF” to Mohamed Yongawo, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Sierra Leone to the Russian Federation.
The ceremony featured welcoming remarks from Yevgeny Primakov, head of the Federal Agency for the Commonwealth of Independent States, Compatriots Living Abroad, and International Humanitarian Cooperation (Rossotrudnichestvo). Olga Petrova, Deputy Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation, and Dmitry Polikanov, deputy head of the Federal Agency for the Commonwealth of Independent States, Compatriots Living Abroad, and International Humanitarian Cooperation (Rossotrudnichestvo), congratulated the participants and guests of the 16th EEYF in their video messages.
The plenary session of the Eurasian Economic Youth Forum concluded with a festive concert, in which guests from 117 countries were greeted by creative groups from the Ural capital.
See the grand opening here
