Russian-Mongolian youth meeting (archive event)

Strengthening friendly ties and further intensification of humanitarian cooperation with Mongolia is one of the priorities of foreign policy of the Russian Federation.

The development of youth cooperation between Russia and Mongolia as a priority area of bilateral strategic partnership is carried out in accordance with the Treaty on Friendly Relations and Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the Russian Federation and Mongolia dated September 3, 2019, the Agreement between the Government of the Russian Federation and the Government of Mongolia on cultural and scientific cooperation of April 5, 1995, the Ulaanbaatar Declaration of 2000, the Moscow Declaration of 2006, the Agreement between the Government of the Russian Federation and the Government of Mongolia on the promotion of interregional and cross-border cooperation dated September 3, 2019.

It is providing for:

• promoting the activation of contacts between people and public organizations including in the fields of culture, education, science, youth exchanges and sports,
• promoting the activation of direct links between educational institutions,
• exchange of pupils and students,
• promotion of cooperation between representatives of creative youth of two countries for the purpose of better mutual acquaintance with the spiritual values of Russian and Mongolian peoples,
• promoting the development of humanitarian cooperation between regions including border regions.

In 2020 and 2021 the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation, MIREA – Russian Technological University and the National Youth Council of Russia organized two pilot youth meetings dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Russia and Mongolia attended by representatives of youth and student associations, universities as well as young professionals from both countries. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the meetings took place online. In 2022 the Russian-Mongolian youth meeting was held in person for the first time in Irkutsk.

The purpose of the Meeting: the activation of Russian-Mongolian youth cooperation, the development of direct contacts between educational institutions of higher education, and youth public organizations of two countries.

Objectives of the meeting:

• informing about the current state and prospects for the development of Russian-Mongolian relations, the possibilities of bilateral youth cooperation,
• exchange of experience in the implementation of youth policy on the topics of the meeting,
• development of ideas for joint youth projects on the topics of the Meeting.

Topics of the working sections of the Meeting: “Young scientists and opportunities for joint research”, “Youth vector of interregional and cross-border cooperation”, “Youth exchanges in the field of culture”.

Participants: students of educational institutions of higher education, representatives of youth public organizations, youth workers from Russia and Mongolia aged 18 to 35 interested in the development of Russian-Mongolian youth cooperation on the topics of the working sections of the meeting, representatives of organizations assisting the development of Russian-Mongolian youth cooperation. Only 47 people participated there.

Key results: As part of the program of the first day of the meeting the participants received information about the current state and prospects for the development of Russian-Mongolian relations, the possibilities of youth cooperation between Russia and Mongolia.

From the Russian side the Deputy Director of the Department of State Youth Policy and Educational Activities of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation O.V. Negrova (online), the leading specialist-expert of the Representative Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation in Irkutsk Yu.N. Malanina, the Vice-Rector of MIREA – Russian Technological University G.V. Petushkov, the Deputy Minister for Youth Policy of the Irkutsk Region I.S. Avdeeva, the Head of the Department of Professional Education of the Ministry of Education of the Irkutsk Region O.V. Khairulina, the Rector of Irkutsk State University of Communications Yu.N. Trofimov (online), the President of Irkutsk State Transport University, the Chairman of the Council of Rectors of Universities of the Irkutsk Region A.P. Khomenko took part from the Russian side. From the Mongolian side – the Consul General of Mongolia in Irkutsk Mr. Zh. Enkhzhargal (in person) and the Director of the Office of Students of the Department of Education of the Executive Agency of the Government of Mongolia Ms. B. Zhanchivdorzh (online).

Also, on the first day of the meeting there were introductory reports by expert moderators of the working sections. The experts were the Head of the Department for work with young scientists of the Department of State Youth Policy and Educational Activities of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation A.G. Asadov, the Head of International Relations Department of Irkutsk State University Yu.V. Elohina, the Deputy Director of the Institute of Youth Policy and International Relations of RTU MIREA D.A. Sokolova and the Senior Lecturer of the Department of Biotechnology and Industrial Pharmacy of the Institute of Fine Chemical Technologies named after M.V. Lomonosov of RTU MIREA M.S. Zolotarev.

On the second day of the meeting within the framework of the working sections the participants exchanged experience and discussed ideas for joint projects on the topics “Young scientists and opportunities for joint scientific research”, “Youth vector of interregional and cross-border cooperation” and “Youth exchanges in the field of culture”.

Following the meeting the participants proposed ideas for enhancing Russian-Mongolian youth cooperation.

At the section “Youth vector of interregional and cross-border cooperation” the current state and opportunities for partnership between the regions of Russia and Mongolia for the development of youth relations were discussed. The language barrier, the lack of up-to-date information about each other and the country as a whole, the closure of representative offices of the Russian regions in Mongolia, ignorance of each other’s mentality, lack of state and financial support and a small number of bilateral youth events were noted as obstacles. The participants suggested using already existing venues in Russia and Mongolia for holding bilateral youth meetings, for example, the site of the Baikal International Youth Forum.

It was also noted that during developing joint youth projects it is important to take into account the interests of both countries. In particular, the Mongolian side is interested in cooperation in the field of digitalization.

The participants of the section “Youth exchanges in the field of culture” proposed to create a coloring book in the “reference” format for children and youth which will allow them to get acquainted with Russian and Mongolian culture on the topics “Life and food culture”, “Peculiarities of speech”, “National clothes”, “Interior and architecture”, “Sights”, “Iconic art objects”.

As a result of the section “Young scientists and opportunities for joint scientific research” a telegram channel that will allow young scientists from Russia and Mongolia to stay in touch and exchange relevant information was created.