From September 13 to 16, a delegation from the Council of Young Diplomats (CYD) of the Abkhazian Foreign Ministry—at the invitation of the leadership of the Russian Foreign Ministry’s Council of Young Diplomats—participated in the 9th Global Forum of Young Diplomats. Titled "Next-Generation Diplomacy: The Role of Youth in Improving the Global Governance System," the event took place in Yekaterinburg alongside the International Youth Festival 2026, with the support of Rossotrudnichestvo, the "New Generation" program, and the World Youth Festival Directorate.
The delegation included Abkhazian Foreign Ministry officials Astanda Pataraya and Victoria Malaniya.
The forum serves as a unique platform for interaction and the open exchange of views on current international issues among young representatives of foreign affairs agencies from various countries. This year, the event brought together over 100 diplomats from 40 nations.
Speakers at the forum included senior officials from the Russian Foreign Ministry, members of the international academic community and media, as well as prominent political and public figures.
This year’s forum focused on international relations in an era of global transformation. Participants discussed key trends in the evolution of modern international relations, including the emergence of a multipolar world and the strengthening of new centers of power. Experts also examined the use of AI, media, and digital diplomacy tools to effectively support foreign policy activities.
"The Global Forum of Young Diplomats is a vital platform for professional dialogue and the development of international ties," noted Astanda Pataraya, Chair of the CYD at the Abkhazian Foreign Ministry. "It is here that young professionals have the opportunity to share experiences, strengthen professional connections, and shape new approaches to addressing pressing issues on the international agenda," the diplomat emphasized. As part of the forum, a meeting also took place at Ural Federal University (UrFU) between participants of the Global Forum of Young Diplomats and students specializing in international relations.
During the event, representatives of foreign affairs agencies shared their professional experiences, offered words of encouragement to the students, and answered their questions.
The event concluded with the adoption of the forum’s final document. This document outlines the young professionals' shared approaches to pressing global issues and the principles of "horizontal diplomacy," as well as new formats for cooperation between the foreign affairs agencies of various countries.
