“From the dialogue of cultures to the prosperity of Russia”, so runs the motto of the 3rd International Forum “Dialogue of Cultures”, that was open today in Penza State University.

The major goal of the forum is to engage all ethnic groups currently living in Penza and the Penza region into a constructive dialogue. Apart from the variety of ethnic groups that are settled here, there is a growing number of international students, that at present amounts to 900 people of 40 countries of the world.

Four representatives of the African republics, Ambassadors Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, were the special guests of the forum: Gabriel AnicetKotchofa(Benin), Yusuf Abasalleh (Chad),Else Nizigama Ntamagiro(Burundi), andSekoIntchasso (Guinea-Bissau). Yao NicaiseAdou, the president of the Association of International Students in Russia, and Mahamat Ya-Ya Kishine, head of the Penza branch of the association, joined the meetings and discussions.

A. Gulyakov, rector of Penza State University, noted in his welcoming address, that the forum atmosphere can serve as an example of close friendly relations between various peoples and countries. ‘I’m proud that the event of such significance is being held in our university. We will always give it as much support as possible,’ he said.

Forum participants came from various regions in Russia (Mordovia, Tatarstan, the Chuvash and Mari El republics, Saratov, Tambov), students of all major universities in Penza – Artillery Engineering Institute, University of Architecture and Building, Agricultural Academy, Technological University – participated in the forum.

It has already become a tradition, that the venues, called houses, offer the forum guests and participants a stunning variety of cultures: literature, music, songs, games, dances, food, crafts of 10 ethnic groups living in the Penza region: Russians, Mordvins, Tatars, Chuvashs, Volga Germans, Armenians, Jews; and 19 representative of foreign countries: Angola, Azerbaijan, China, Cuba, India, Iraq, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Laos, Mali, Mongolia, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Sudan, Syria, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Vietnam.

Serious issues of intercultural and interethnic communication were also discussed at forum round tables, during the art training ‘Unity in Variety: My Successful Future’. 2nd International Youth Legal Forum “Youth Choice: Internet without Terrorism” was centred on terrorist prevention in the media and encouragement of international tolerance.

Photos below show the Alley of Peoples’ Friendship being set up at the university campus, these are fir trees along building 11 of Penza State University.
The closing ceremony is to be conducted in the Penza Philharmonic Hall, but the official meetings of international delegations will continue.