Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 27 March (BelTA) – Today youth cooperation requires new formats, Russian Ambassador to Belarus Alexander Surikov noted at the opening of the 3rd International Conference of Compatriots on the contribution of young people to Russia-Belarus relations on 27 March, BelTA has learned.

"Today youth cooperation requires new technologies and new formats of work in different fields. There is a growing understanding that more young people should be engaged in business. We have not been very active in this regard. We need to redouble our efforts. Communication between young Russians and Belarusians and exchange of experience during the forum will strengthen Russia-Belarus cooperation,” Alexander Surikov underlined.

Young people are a strategic resource of both states, noted Tatyana Yakubovich, deputy chairperson of the permanent commission on education, culture, and science at the House of Representatives. “The future of the two fraternal nations depends on the groundwork we lay in relations with young people. This foundation is already in place. Belarus is interacting with 65 regions of Russia. We have been actively developing relations with Moscow, St Petersburg, Leningrad Oblast and Bryansk Oblast, and also youth entrepreneurship, social media outreach, and construction volunteering,” she emphasized.

The 3rd International Conference of Compatriots on the contribution of young people to Russia-Belarus relations is taking place in the House of Moscow in Minsk from 27 to 28 March. The forum has brought together over 140 members of youth public associations, government bodies and agencies, educational institutions, mass media, and funds from Belarus and Russia. The event is meant to outline new avenues and formats of cooperation and present successful projects of Russia-Belarus youth cooperation, come up with mechanisms to support them. The conference is organized by the coordinating council of Russian compatriots. Last year, the forum was held at the Faculty of History of Lomonosov Moscow State University.