President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Friends.
I am delighted to welcome participants and guests of the International Youth Festival.
This year, you have gathered in the capital of the Urals, Yekaterinburg – the city where Europe and Asia meet and where history literally lives in every stone.
For centuries, the Urals have produced ideas that changed our country for the better. First plants, Russia’s first industrial revolution, and hundreds of modern scientific breakthroughs. Where else but here, one of the centres of Russia’s industrial, cultural and intellectual legacy, would young leaders from different countries discuss how our life is changing with the arrival of new technology and what kind of world we want in the future?
In the Russian language, the word “mir” means friendship, peace and accord; but at the same time, it means the world, the planet: humanity, all the countries and peoples on Earth. That explains so much about the character of Russia’s multi-ethnic nation, our decisions and actions.
If we are friends, our friendship is strong and enduring. If we are neighbours, we seek fairness and respect for one another.
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. We strongly believe that every nation is free to choose its path independently and is entitled to equal access to medications, food, water, energy and education opportunities, and to the use of the latest technology that must be available to all humanity.
It is our aspiration, our cause and our dream. If you share these aspirations, let’s change the world together.
We will welcome those who decide to join our projects in Russia. We are equally happy to see you build our shared new, open and, hopefully, just world in your own home countries.
I have no doubt that you, the younger generation, will succeed. It is your time.
Follow your dreams with Russia.
I wish you the best of health, good luck and all the best.