Putin urges global youth to work together to change the world

Russian President Vladimir Putin has urged young people from around the world to work together to build what he described as a “new, open and just world” during a televised address marking the opening of the International Festival of Youth in Ekaterinburg.

Around 10,000 young participants from 191 countries are attending the festival, which began on September 13 and will continue through September 17. The gathering includes 5,000 Russian participants and 5,000 international participants, including 1,000 teenagers aged between 14 and 17.

In his address, Putin said every country should have the freedom to determine its own path while having equal access to resources and technology.

He encouraged young people to take part in projects in Russia and pursue similar initiatives in their own countries. He also welcomed participants to Ekaterinburg, describing the Urals city as a place where Europe and Asia meet and highlighting its historical role in Russia’s industrial and intellectual development.

Putin also referred to the Russian word “mir”, which can mean both “peace” and “world”. He said the dual meaning reflects the character of Russia’s multi-ethnic society.

The festival’s motto is “Follow Your Dream”, which Putin echoed in his message to participants.

According to Russia’s Federal Agency for Youth Affairs, known as Rosmolodezh, more than 113,000 applications were submitted from around the world to attend the event.

Organisers said international applications exceeded those from Russia for the first time in the history of the festival movement, with the difference reaching around 32,000 applications.