The message reads, in part:
“Young people have always been distinguished by their energy and enthusiasm, active creativity and openness to everything new. Today, in our fast-changing and increasingly globalised world it is you young people who have a particular part to play in developing international cooperation.
Your forum today in Paris has brought together students from more than 30 leading Russian and French universities. You have the important and responsible mission of discussing the common problems our two countries face.
I am sure that this forum will create new opportunities for expanding the humanitarian dialogue between Russia and France, help cement the friendship and understanding between our peoples, and produce promising ideas and recommendations that we can put into practice, including through the Year of Russia in France and Year of France in Russia events, which President Nicholas Sarkozy and I will officially launch in March.”
Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office Sergei Naryshkin read out the President’s message.
The Russian-French Student Forum is taking place on January 25–26 in Paris as part of the events in the Year of Russia in France and Year of France in Russia programmes.