Russian President Vladimir Putin has called on young people from around the world to work together to build what he described as a “new, open and just world”, in a televised address marking the opening of the International Festival of Youth in Ekaterinburg.
Addressing around 10,000 young participants representing 191 countries on Sunday, Putin said every nation should have the freedom to determine its own path while enjoying equal access to resources and technology.
“We want every person to remain human and for their fate be determined by things other than nationality, a wallet packed with money, status or background,” Putin said.
“If you share these aspirations, let’s change the world together,” he added, inviting young people to participate in projects in Russia while encouraging them to pursue similar initiatives in their own countries.
Putin welcomed participants to Ekaterinburg, describing the Urals city as a place “where Europe and Asia meet” and highlighting its historic role in Russia’s industrial and intellectual development.
He also referred to the Russian word “mir”, which can mean both “peace” and “world”, saying the dual meaning reflects the character of Russia’s multi-ethnic society.
The festival, running from September 13 to 17, has brought together 5,000 Russian citizens and 5,000 international participants, including 1,000 teenagers aged between 14 and 17.
According to the Federal Agency for Youth Affairs (Rosmolodezh), more than 113,000 applications were submitted from around the world.
Organisers said international applications exceeded those from Russia for the first time in the history of the festival movement, by around 32,000 applications.
