The message reads, in part:
“I am very happy to welcome scientists, public figures, and NGO representatives from over 120 world countries to Russia’s capital.
Your respected, prestigious forum is devoted to one of the most urgent problems in modern times: early childhood care and education. It is symbolic that it is being held during the Year of the Teacher. The education received by children greatly influences their opportunities for self-fulfilment and their choice of the way they live. This affects the future of our nations and the entire planet. That is why educational programmes that advocate wider global humanitarian dialogue, stronger cooperation, and building common ground, are in such great demand today.
Choosing Moscow as the host city for this Conference is the highest assessment of Russia’s pre-school education development initiatives launched under the auspices of UNESCO. Our nation has always been known for its high-quality system of education and care for young children, particularly those with various health-related limitations. And today, Russia is giving very serious attention to modernising this system.
I am confident that this Conference will help foster the exchange of experience in this important domain and promote closer coordination of efforts taken by global community in the name of our children’s happiness and well-being.”