From 21 to 24 October in Moscow there was a meeting of experts in the development of international youth cooperation and public diplomacy for youth organisations representatives and youth leaders.
The Public Diplomatic Corps forum gathered over 50 representatives of youth organisations from Russia, CIS countries, Baltic and Caucasian states, EU countries, compatriots living abroad.
Opening the meeting, the chairman of the National Council of Youth and Children's Organisations of Russia, Grigory Petushkov, noted that this form of dialogue was rather popular today and the organisers saw in the work of the seminar prospects for the development of international youth cooperation — «public youth diplomacy».
«For the first time in the contemporary history of Russia international youth cooperation has been recorded and included in such a document as 'Fundamentals of the state youth policy until 2015'. I am calling on you and all young people to join the processes aimed at the development of international humanitarian cooperation, civil activism and patriotism," Grigory Petushkov addressed to the participants.
The schedule of the meeting was very rich and included communication with Russian experts, professors from Russia's biggest universities, including MGIMO and Moscow State University of Information Technologies, Radio Engineering and Electronics.
The lectures covered the 70th anniversary of the UNO, development of international policy, state vector of the development of international youth cooperation and international organisations in the CIS countries.
Besides, the young public diplomats were received in Russia's foreign ministry where the young people talked to the head of the NGO department, Sergey Ryabokon, and visited the Centre of the Russian diplomatic service history.
In the Federation Council the expert module participant met the head of the international committee, Konstantin Kosachyov, and learnt his position on Russian foreign and domestic policy issues. Besides, they touched upon the events in Syria, development of the Crimean federal district and Pridnestrovie's position.
Among the guests of the forum were the CEO and first deputy editor-in-chief of the RT channel, Aleksey Nikolov. He spoke about the advantages and threats of information space.
The four-day work of the PDC forum was concluded with the elaboration of the plan of actions 'International youth cooperation: from concept to practice'.
The Public Diplomatic Corps (PDC) was established in 2009. This project is designed for the young people from Russia, Baltic and CIS countries who have knowledge and skills in international communication and relations and who are ready to implement international projects aimed at forming the positive image of participating states abroad, expansion of Russian culture and language across the world.
The organisers and ideologues of the PDC programme are the National Council of Youth and Children's Organisations, Federal Agency for Youth Affairs, under the auspices of the Ministry of Education and Science, Public Chamber, MGIMO European Education Centre, International Youth Centre, Foundation for the Development of International cooperation, Moscow State University of Information Technologies, Radio Engineering and Electronics.
