More than 50 young diplomats from 20 countries attended the annual event in Kazan

The Russian city of Kazan has hosted a forum of young diplomats from Muslim countries, held alongside a major summit focused on strengthening economic ties between Russia and the Islamic world.

The 9th Forum of Young Diplomats of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) brought together 50 participants from around 20 countries, including Bahrain, Indonesia, Iraq, Iran, Türkiye, UAE, Cameroon, Turkmenistan, and others.

The forum took place during the 16th international 'Russia-Islamic World: KazanForum' in Kazan, the capital of the predominantly Muslim Tatarstan Republic in central Russia from Tuesday to Sunday.

The annual forum is a space where future diplomats can connect, exchange ideas, and strengthen cooperation between Russia and OIC member states.

This year's theme, 'Victory Diplomacy', marked 80 years since the Soviet Union defeated Nazi Germany during the Second World War.

In the opening remarks, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov highlighted Moscow's longstanding ties with the Islamic world and referred to Russia as a "civilization-state" - a term that underscores its distinct historical, cultural, and spiritual identity set apart from the West.

Panel discussions explored global security, humanitarian cooperation, and the changing role of diplomacy. A session hosted with Russian video platform RuTube focused on how new technology and media influence international relations.

Participants from countries including Russia, Cameroon, Sierra Leone, Guinea-Bissau, the Republic of Guinea, Iran, Oman, and Morocco also joined a friendly football match against a team of former professional players. Big names included former Russian star Aleksandr Mostovoy, iconic goalkeeper Ruslan Nigmatullin, South African midfielder Macbeth Sibaya, and Turkish winger Gokdeniz Karadeniz.

The International Association of Young Diplomats also welcomed new members during the forum. Since its launch in 2016, the event has brought together around 300 young diplomats from over 45 OIC countries.

(RT.com)