On the first day of the World Public Assembly, a series of cooperation agreements started being signed among the participants. One of the first agreements was signed between the World Public Assembly and the African Network of Women Mayors.
The document was signed by Andrey Belyaninov, Secretary General of the Assembly, and Rohey Malick Lowe, Mayor of Banjul, the capital of Gambia. About 100 agreements are planned to be concluded at the WPA venues. “Unity is most important now… Friendship is what matters,” echoed the speeches of the new partners.
Speakers from the UK, China, Italy, Russia, Venezuela, France, Morocco, Kazakhstan, and Germany discussed culture as a “bridge for rapprochement” during the panel session “Culture as the Foundation of Trust on the Path to World Harmony.” Juan Miguel Díaz Ferrer, a professor at the Venezuelan Diplomatic Academy and former Deputy Minister of Culture of Venezuela, characterized the role of culture in international relations as follows: “Culture is the best bridge for bringing people together.”
Samir Jamai, a professor of art education, Vice President of the Association of Moroccans Worldwide for Communication, Development, and Social Services, and founder of the SAJA brand, believes: “When politics builds walls, culture tears them down.”
“History’s cyclical nature opens new opportunities; respect for differences leads to harmony,” notes Debing Liu, Director of the Advisory Board of the Center for International Business Ethics (CIBE) at the University of International Business and Economics (UIBE), and a senior consultant to several government agencies and institutions (China).
Roberto D’Agostino, founder of RDA Consulting, visiting professor at Ural Federal University, and Honorary Consul of Italy in Yekaterinburg, describes culture as “the diplomacy of the human heart, which builds trust.”
The theme of culture as a meaning-making factor for all civilizations was repeatedly raised at the venues of international associations.
“The future multipolar world depends on each of us,” believe the participants of the panel discussion “Dialogue and Partnership of BRICS Countries to Strengthen Solidarity and International Cooperation.” Marina Girina, President of the Cluster of Medical, Environmental Instrumentation and Biotechnology (Russia), called “the material of the new world” equal partnership and mutual respect. “We preserve our identity, but we learn to understand each other,” is how Stanislav Koryakin, a member of the Commission on Culture and Preservation of Spiritual Heritage of the Public Chamber of the Russian Federation, characterized the methods of cooperation. Elena Matveeva, President of the International Association of Women “Mercury. New Time,” called the BRICS union “both logistical and meaningful bridges.” Gennady Kurtyan, Chairman of the Moldovan Branch of the International Fund for Moral Solidarity (Moldova), believes that “moral understanding is a tool of soft power.”
Mohammad Esmail Khazzar, CEO of Mir Business Bank, announced the creation of a SCO bank for cooperation in green industry, digital diplomacy, and energy during the panel session “SCO: A Space of Trust Between Peoples.” He emphasized the importance of settlements in national currencies and the development of the North-South corridor.
Madi Bolero Hamada, former Prime Minister of the Union of the Comoros, at the panel session “Africa in the Modern World: A New Era of Cooperation and Partnership,” stressed: “Africa’s role is not just about resources. The African Union’s presence in the G20 helps the Global South be heard.”
The panel session “International Cooperation: Science and Education. Meeting of Rectors” was dedicated not only to cooperation in these fields but also, for the most part, to the challenges of upbringing. “Universities are conduits of humanism, peace, and respect for differences; their mission is to build the human being,” emphasized Adnan Badran, former Prime Minister of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.
To conclude the first day of the World Pub;ic Assembly, , a ceremony was held to award the winners of the “Leader of Public Diplomacy – 2025” competition. Six first-degree diplomas were awarded to representatives from Lebanon, Indonesia, France, Russia, and Japan. “Unity of hearts” is the main result of the competition, noted laureate Elena Koreda from Japan.
An unexpected feature of the award ceremony was that, alongside the laureates, the honorary badge “People’s Diplomat” from the SCO Public Diplomacy Center in Uzbekistan was also awarded to Natalia Zabolotskikh, Program Director of the World Public Assembly and coordinator of the “Leader of Public Diplomacy” competition.
Svetlana Smirnova, Chairwoman of the General Council of the Assembly of the Peoples of the World, reminded that the first competition was held in 2015 in Perm and immediately went beyond Russia. Now that the competition has become international and continues to develop, it has every prospect of literally covering all countries of the world.
Awards were also presented for the “Trust and Unity” Grant Competition. The competition received 76 applications representing projects in the fields of children’s diplomacy, education, international scientific cooperation, preservation of historical memory, creative practices, and leadership communities. The jury selected 6 winners. Igor Khalevinsky, Chairman of the Council of the Association of Russian Diplomats, member of the General Council and the High Advisory Council of the Assembly of the Peoples of the World, noted the “new scale” of the competition and the “innovative approaches” of its participants during the award ceremony. “We look forward to even more projects and sincere stories that change the world,” he said.
Source: EcowasNewsOnline.com
