From 13rd to 16th of November, 2018, the 1st Youth Forum Celac-Russia took place. The event was held for four days at different sites: the central headquarters of the Young Guard of United Russia (MGER), HSE and the Diplomatic Academy of the Russian Foreign Ministry.
The forum was attended by about 100 students from more than 10 countries: Latin America, Spain, Canada, and Russia.
The main purpose of the forum was to improve relations between Latin American and Caribbean countries and the Russian Federation in the political, economic, cultural and social spheres.
The forum has become a platform for a large number of experts and speakers from various companies, leading universities and educational centers and embassies. The following committees functioned within the forum:
• Committee on Security and Sovereignty.
• Committee on Trade and Investment.
• Committee for Cultural and Educational Relations.
• Crisis Committee.
It is worth mentioning that the Committee on Energy Integration was represented by 17 students of the Gubkin Russian State of Oil and Gas, 3 of which were part of the Presidium, as well as students of MGIMO and HSE. The main idea of the committee is: strengthen cooperation between the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean and the Russian Federation through energy integration.
On November 13, accreditation of delegates and observers took place at the Headquarters of Young Guard of United Russia, after which an informal opening was held at which the head of the MGER international direction, Daria Sharova, Venezuelan Minister-Counselor, Head of the Energy Department at the Embassy of Venezuela in Russia Hoglis Martinez, and a representative of the organizing committee Juan Antoni Sanchez spoke. At the end of the evening, the participants attended the plenary sessions, where they could get to know each other, as well as discuss future plans.
On November 14, the grand opening of the First Youth Forum CELAC-Russia took place at HSE, at which the ambassadors of the CELAC member countries spoke. In the afternoon, the participants headed to the auditoriums, where, within their committee, the methodology, regulations and main topics of discussion were explained. After that, delegates delivered country presentations.
On November 15, participants discussed issues, presented ideas and solutions to problems in the development of safe nuclear energy, effective interaction between CELAC countries and Russia in the oil and gas industry, and education of specialists for the energy sector. At the end of the day a vote was taken and a resolution was presented. It is impossible not to mention the speeches of invited experts, who shared their experiences:
• Vasily Alekseevich Totkalo, Advisor to the General Director, NIIgazeconomika, who shared his experience in Latin America in the oil and gas industry.
• Larisa Semenovna Ruban, Director and Scientific Director of the Center for Global Studies «EAST-WEST» NRU MPEI, who gave a lecture on the topic «Strengthening cooperation between Latin American and Caribbean countries and the Russian Federation.»
• Alexei Nikolaevich Bokov, Head of the Department for Work with Foreign Students of the Gubkin Russian State University of Oil and Gas, who shared his experience in training personnel reserve for the fuel and energy complex (FEC).
On November 16, the Diplomatic Academy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation hosted the closing ceremony of the forum, at which the results of the work of the committees were summed up and minor adjustments made to the final resolution. At the end, delegates were awarded certificates for participation, as well as the selection of the “Best Delegate” took place. The student of the master’s degree course at the Gubkin Russian State University of Oil and Gas (NRU) Savely Ilyukhin was awarded the “Best Delegate” by the Committee on Energy Integration.
Resolutions were the outcome of the forum — the main decisions taken by the participants during the discussions in the committees operating at the forum, which will be considered at a higher level. We express gratitude to the organizers of the forum, as well as the SPE section of the Gubkin University for the opportunity to be the first participants in the history of such a large-scale event!