Tashkent, Uzbekistan – 29 July 2024. From July 22 to 25, the A.Gromyko Forum of Young Internationalists of the CIS took place in Moscow, gathering over 50 participants from CIS countries. The event featured scholars and experts from the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), and the Presidential Administration of the Russian Federation. Representing Uzbekistan were Islomkhon Gafarov, a Senior research fellow from the Institute for Advanced International Studies (IAIS), and Abdulaziz Rakhmatullaev, Deputy Dean of the Faculty of International Relations at the University of World Economy and Diplomacy (UWED).

The Forum began on July 23 at the Institute of Europe of the RAS. Opening speeches were delivered by Alexey Anatolyevich Gromyko, Director of the Institute of Europe of the RAS and Chairman of the A.Gromyko Association for Foreign Policy Studies; Andrey ArkadyevichKlimov, Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council Committee on International Affairs; and Dmitry Mikhailovich Demurin, Deputy Director of the Second CIS Department of the Russian MFA.

In the afternoon, Forum participants presented their projects. Islomkhon Gafarov spoke on aligning the foreign policy strategies of CIS countries, emphasizing key areas of convergence such as the development of international transport corridors, trade, and issues related to the situation in Afghanistan.

On July 24, the second day of the Forum continued at MGIMO. Opening addresses were delivered by Rector Anatoly Torkunov, Deputy Head of the Presidential Directorate for Border Cooperation Sergey Malenko, and Director of the Information and Press Department of the Russian MFA Maria Zakharova. They underscored the contributions of A.Gromyko and the significance of human capital in the post-Soviet space, highlighting the importance of such events in fostering youth and academic exchanges and strengthening ties between CIS countries.

In the afternoon, participants visited the Russian MFA, where they met with Alexander Vadimovich Sternik, Director of the Third CIS Department. His sharing of life and career experiences as a professional diplomat left a profound impression on the attendees.

The A.Gromyko Forum of Young Internationalists of the CIS has established itself as a vital platform for exchanging ideas and building connections among young specialists and scholars from CIS countries. Over four days, participants had the opportunity to present their research and projects, discuss current foreign policy issues, identify new areas of convergence, and outline future cooperation directions.