WASHINGTON, August 26 (RIA Novosti) – Students and young professionals from Russia and the United States, all born after the end of the Cold War, convene this week in Seattle for a “youth summit” aimed at strengthening bonds between young citizens of the two former superpower adversaries, organizers said.
The 100 participants in the inaugural three-day event – 50 Russians and 50 Americans – “will establish mutual understanding … through open dialogue regarding stereotypes and the history of Russian-American relations,” the official website of the Russian-American Youth Summit stated.
Partners in organizing the event include the University of Washington, the Russian Embassy in the United States and the Center for American-Russian Engagement of Emerging Leaders.
During the gathering, which will be held on the campus of the University of Washington in Seattle, the participants will be divided into six specialized working groups which, the organizers hope, will “redefine the nature and scope of Russian-American youth relations.”
The working groups will focus on entrepreneurship, information technology, media, student leadership, sustainable development, and scientific research. Participants are expected to identify opportunities for civilian Russian-American cooperation and then propose a relevant “collaborative project of mutual interest,” the organizers said.
Alumni will provide quarterly updates on their progress over the next year, before presenting a final report during the summer 2014 Russian-American Youth Summit, according to the website.
