Together for a multipolar world: International Cooperation Forum opens at the National Centre RUSSIA
On 26 October, the International Cooperation Forum opened at the National Centre RUSSIA. It became the main event of the anniversary programme dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the Institute of People’s Diplomacy. The event brought together more than 2,000 participants from Russia and abroad, including representatives of over 100 countries across Europe, Asia, Africa, and Latin America.
The welcome letter from the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, to the participants of the International Cooperation Forum was read out by the Presidential Aide and Chair of the Presidential Council for Civil Society and Human Rights, Valery Fadeyev.
"A century ago, the All-Union Society for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries was founded, launching a systematic and joint effort to strengthen friendship and mutual understanding with the peoples of other states. Today, its successor — the Federal Agency for the Commonwealth of Independent States Affairs, Compatriots Living Abroad, and International Humanitarian Cooperation, or Rossotrudnichestvo — continues this mission. Despite the current challenging international situation, Rossotrudnichestvo manages not only to maintain but also to expand constructive ties with non-governmental organisations in many countries," the President’s message reads.
The head of state emphasised that Rossotrudnichestvo implements numerous projects in education and enlightenment, promotes an objective image of Russia abroad, and popularises the Russian language as well as the achievements of national science and culture.
According to the President, the efforts of people’s diplomacy help safeguard the legitimate interests of the Russian Federation on the international stage and strengthen cooperation with like-minded partners and allies in building a fair and democratic multipolar world order.
In his video address, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, Sergei Lavrov, noted that the All-Union Society for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries had been established as far back as 1925. Since then, he said, political systems had changed, but direct people-to-people contacts had consistently contributed to fostering friendship, trust and mutual understanding among nations representing different civilisations, religions and cultures.
"The presence of numerous foreign guests here is vivid proof that Russia truly has many good, reliable friends who share our values and wish to understand better the life of our country. Today, when the global situation remains tense, exchanges between people and dialogue among representatives of science, culture and sport take on special importance in improving the international climate. We welcome such efforts," said the Minister.
He stressed that Russia continues to develop as a modern state committed to broad, depoliticised international cooperation: "We regard no nations as unfriendly or hostile — neither in the West nor in the East. We always remain open to honest and equal partnerships with all those who, like us, are guided by their national interests and build interstate cooperation based on the UN Charter in its entirety, integrity and interconnection."
Sergei Lavrov added that Russia consistently proceeds from the principle that the work of foreign policy agencies must be complemented by people’s diplomacy and the broad engagement of civil society — those who seek to bring international life back to a constructive track.
"People’s diplomacy began to take shape exactly 100 years ago here, in our country. At that time, no one else was seriously or systematically engaged in it. We can proudly say that Russia is the birthplace of people’s diplomacy. Back then it was deeply ideologised — and we should speak about this openly, as ideology was enshrined in our Soviet Constitution," said Deputy Chair of the Federation Council Konstantin Kosachev.
However, as Konstantin Kosachev noted, this is no longer the case today. Therefore, the work of Rossotrudnichestvo should not be viewed through an ideological lens.
"All branches of government, including the parliament, remain involved in this work. We do not follow any single ideology — we uphold universal human values. This is what makes our people’s diplomacy so strong and continues to attract a vast number of people around the world," added Konstantin Kosachev.
The centuries-long history and experience of our country demonstrate that traditional spiritual and moral values form the foundation of such dialogue. His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus’ emphasised this point in his video address.
"Without relying on these values, it is impossible to achieve a lasting and just peace. It is precisely these timeless ideals that can serve as a true compass for developing international educational, cultural and social policy," he said in his message to the participants of the International Cooperation Forum.
The Head of Rossotrudnichestvo, Yevgeny Primakov, stressed that a hundred years of people’s diplomacy is merely a milestone, not a limit — this work will continue.
"We live in a complex world; we know it and we understand it. Together we are seeking paths towards justice, striving to overcome new forms of colonialism and free ourselves from old stereotypes and prejudices. Yet, unfortunately, we are once again witnessing attempts to rewrite history, to justify those whom history has already condemned, to rehabilitate fascism and Nazism," said Yevgeny Primakov.
According to him, today nations must talk to each other, listen to each other, sit down at the negotiating table and look for common ground. At the same time, the Head of Rossotrudnichestvo noted that relations between countries are not built solely through diplomacy, summits or meetings of leaders.
"True friendship is born through human connection — in the desire of people to understand one another, to share knowledge, to teach and to learn languages, to respect traditions, to study each other’s values while preserving their own national and traditional ones. That is why today we are speaking about unity, overcoming neocolonialism and neo-Nazism, combating hunger and injustice, ensuring equal access to education, promoting development and our shared progress. Only together can we build a bright, fair and prosperous future," said Yevgeny Primakov.
People’s diplomacy is grounded in mutual understanding among nations — in their history, culture and traditions, stressed Director General of the Russian society Znanie, Maxim Dreval. According to him, education plays a crucial role in this process.
"Throughout our long history, we in Russia have achieved a great deal. We conquered space and continue to explore its vastness. We have given the world masterpieces of music, literature, painting and theatre. We have developed cutting-edge technologies that still shape humanity’s future. At the Russian society Znanie, we actively work to share knowledge about Russia across the world. And in this, we are especially grateful to foreign educators — our lecturers who tell the truth about our country. I am convinced that people’s diplomacy and education will continue to unite people, break down barriers and create space for genuine mutual understanding," noted Maxim Dreval.
The International Cooperation Forum is held from 25 to 27 October. Its key themes include cooperation in culture and science, achieving genuine sovereignty, supporting development, combating neocolonialism and neo-Nazism, marking the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War, and addressing global challenges such as hunger, illiteracy and lack of rights.
Following the Forum, a resolution will be adopted, based on the approaches developed by experts at thematic sessions. Among them will be proposals to consolidate the international community in combating neo-Nazism and building a multipolar world order.
The organisers of the Forum are the National Centre RUSSIA, Rossotrudnichestvo, the Russian society Znanie, and the Roscongress Foundation. The general partner is PSB Bank PJSC.
