Moscow (TDI): The first World Peoples Assembly (WPA) opened in the Russian capital on Saturday, drawing over 4,000 participants from more than 150 countries in a bid to chart pathways for a “sustainable, just and harmonious future”.
Timed with the International Day of Peace, the large-scale humanitarian forum brings together an unusually diverse gathering of political leaders, diplomats, scientists, cosmonauts, cultural figures, civil society representatives and descendants of historic personalities.
Themed “New World of Conscious Unity”, the assembly aims to promote dialogue across borders at a time of mounting global divisions. “The New World begins where unity is affirmed, where values are above differences, and cooperation is stronger than rivalry,” said Secretary General Andrey Belyaninov at the opening session.
Aleksandra Ochirova, UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador and co-chair of the WPA council, stressed that unity cannot be imposed by governments but must evolve through “humanitarian modernization” and proposals from people themselves.
The two-day programme includes seven plenary sessions and more than 40 thematic platforms on public diplomacy, spiritual unity, corporate responsibility, youth leadership, media, and cultural traditions.
Forums range from a youth-led “Generation of Unity” to a business dialogue on social responsibility and a media conference under the banner “Media in the Service of Humanity”.
A special session of university rectors will also take place, alongside the presentation of the Public Recognition Award “For Service to Humanity” to figures advancing global cooperation.
Notable participants include senior representatives of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, the Commonwealth of Independent States, the Union State of Russia and Belarus, as well as leaders from Africa, Latin America and South Asia. Over 200 journalists are covering the gathering, with Russia’s TASS news agency broadcasting live.
Organised by the International Union of Non-Governmental Organisations “World Peoples Assembly”, the forum positions itself as a platform for multipolar dialogue at a time of shifting global power balances.
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