Baku hosts official opening ceremony of D-8 Youth Dialogue - UPDATED

The official opening ceremony of the D-8 Youth Dialogue was held in Baku.

According to Report, Azerbaijan is hosting this event for the first time, from December 5–9.

At the opening, Azerbaijani Minister of Youth and Sports Farid Gayibov highlighted the importance of the dialogue in strengthening youth connections among member states and fostering joint initiatives. He also noted that the events to be held in Sumgayit, the Youth Capital of 2025, will be beneficial for young people, and called on participants to actively engage in the dialogues.

Later, the Secretary-General of the D-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation, Ambassador Isiaka Abdulqadir Imam, shared his views on the significance of the event. He thanked the country's leadership and organizers for their hospitality and emphasized the dialogue's role in strengthening corporate ties among the youth of D-8 countries.

Chairman of the State Committee on Urban Planning and Architecture of Azerbaijan, Anar Guliyev, spoke about urban planning and sustainable development. He stressed that youth are the driving force of social development, innovation, and sustainability, and underlined the importance of cooperation for future generations. He also noted the special significance of youth-led innovative initiatives at the 13th World Urban Forum (WUF13), which Azerbaijan will host in 2026.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Yalchin Rafiyev addressed the role of youth in the global climate agenda. He emphasized the importance of events held among D-8 countries throughout the year and noted that the D-8 Youth Dialogue will serve as a vital platform for exchanging ideas among young people.

Special guest Mohamed Abdulkadir Ali, Somalia's Minister of Youth and Sports, underscored the importance of unity and experience-sharing among countries within the dialogue.

Merna Alzurikat, UN Young Leader for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Director of Communications and Outreach at JSRI, highlighted the necessity of international cooperation within the framework of the SDGs.

The opening session continued with exchanges of views among representatives from participating countries.

It was noted that in the coming days, panel discussions will be held on youth policy, innovation, climate, and urbanization.

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For the first time, the D-8 Youth Dialogue is being held in Baku, Report informs.

The opening ceremony was attended by Azerbaijan's Minister of Youth and Sports, Farid Gayibov; Secretary-General of the D-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation, Ambassador Isiaka Abdulqadir Imam; Chairman of the State Committee on Urban Planning and Architecture of Azerbaijan, Anar Guliyev; Lead Negotiator for COP29 and Azerbaijani Deputy Foreign Minister, Yalchin Rafiyev; UN Young Leader for the Sustainable Development Goals and Director of Communications and Outreach at JSRI, Merna Alzurikat; as well as the special guest of the event, Somalia's Minister of Youth and Sports, Mohamed Abdulkadir Ali.

The dialogue is organized by the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Azerbaijan under the theme "Youth Shaping the Future of the Global Urban Agenda: Sustainable and Climate-Resilient Cities of Tomorrow".

The main goal of the event is to foster regional and international cooperation among young people, enhance their potential for innovation and employment, and expand their role in building a sustainable, inclusive, and environmentally friendly urban environment.

The forum will discuss topics such as "Human Capital Development and Sustainable Urbanization – Youth as a Leading Force for Development," "Sustainable Urbanization: Youth and the Future of Cities," and "Transformation for Smart and Inclusive Cities."