In the end of March 2019, the second international youth forum «Vision for the Future», organized by the Indian organization BRICS International Forum, was held at the Russian Center for Science and Culture in New Delhi (India). Within the framework of the forum, a visiting session of the international Roskongress project «Friends of Cities» took place, whose purpose was to exchange best practices in the development of sustainable cities for further cooperation.
The event was attended by young experts, leaders of public organizations and entrepreneurs from 20 countries that are members of the Global Leadership and Entrepreneurship Network. The meeting was moderated by the Assistant Director for Youth Policy of the Roskongress Foundation, Mr. Roman Chukov. International participants included BRICS International Forum International Relations Director Rishabh Sethi (India), Director of Yayasan Aspirasi Rakyat Amalan Malaysia Nehsan Salvaraj (Malaysia), Director of External Relations and Cooperation of the Mongolian Federation of Employers Baldjinnyam Chinzorigt (Mongolia).
The session discussed international experience, as well as specific projects to achieve sustainable urban development and the necessary skills of young people for their implementation in the cities of the future.
Earlier, Chairman of the Board, Director of the Roscongress Foundation, Alexander Stuglev, noted that «the «Friends of the Cities» community is one of the first international expert communities that the Roscongress Foundation plans to launch in 2019 as part of the international pool of young leaders and entrepreneurs from the participants of our largest international events». The «Friends of the cities» officially started at the Russian Investment Forum - 2019 in Sochi.
The unique event in India shows the high potential of the idea of ​​finding best practices for the development of sustainable cities.
Work on the project will continue at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, which will be held in June 6–8, 2019.