Tashkent branch of St Petersburg University holds the 11th Youth Dialogue for students from Russia, Korea, and Uzbekistan

From the Russian side, representatives of six universities were taking part in the event. These were: St Petersburg University; Moscow State Linguistic University; the Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia (RUDN University); the Higher School of Economics; Ural Federal University; and Northern (Arctic) Federal University. The Korean side was represented by students from: Hankuk University of Foreign Studies; Korea University; Sungkyunkwan University; Yonsei University; Anyang University; Chungbuk National University; the University of Ulsan; Hanyang University; and the University of North Korean Studies. The side of Uzbekistan was represented by students from Samarkand State University and Bukhara State University.

The opening began with a welcome speech from Vladimir Filippov, Co-Head of the Youth Dialogue working group from the Russian side and President of the Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia. He noted that the Youth Dialogue was held in person for the first time in three years and brought together not only representatives from Russia and the Republic of Korea, but also from the Republic of Uzbekistan on one platform. Li Chinvon, Executive Secretary of the KRD Youth Dialogue working group and Director of the Korea Youth Work Agency (KYWA), spoke on behalf of the Korean side.

St Petersburg University and the Korea—Russia Dialogue Forum open the Club of Korean Students of Russian universities

On behalf of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the participants were welcomed by Emma Aslonova, Member of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Representatives of diplomatic institutions, Valeriia Zanina, First Secretary of the Embassy of the Russian Federation in the Republic of Uzbekistan, and Baek Seung-hee, First Secretary of the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in the Republic of Uzbekistan, wished success in holding the event. Makhmudzhon Ziiadullaev, Head of Tashkent branch of St Petersburg University, proposed to make the practice of attracting students from different countries to the Youth Dialogue permanent. This would expand the geography of events and provide a fresh look at the issues that are regularly discussed at the site.

After the opening ceremony, the participants got acquainted. Then, the first discussion took place, during which the participants identified the topics of their research and creative projects and divided into teams. In the afternoon, the participants visited the historical part of Tashkent and familiarised themselves with the local culture. During the following days of the Youth Dialogue, they visited Samarkand, Bukhara, and Navoi. The information collected during the excursions will serve as the foundation for their future projects. Upon visiting Tashkent, the participants continued their work at Samarkand State University, Bukhara State University, and the representative office of St Petersburg University in Navoi.

Additionally, representatives of the Education Centre of the Republic of Korea in Tashkent, the Shinsedae Youth Centre, the Association of Korean Cultural Centres in Uzbekistan, and the National Institute of Fine Arts and Design named after Kamoliddin Behzod gave lectures to the event participants.