Penza, 21 May 2015. PenzaNews. The fourth international students’ forum “Dialogue of Cultures 2015” opened its doors under the motto “We are for Peace” at the Penza State University early on Thursday, May 21.

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The event began with a flag parade, where people coming from various states and nationalities living in the Penza region carried the flags of their countries.

The parade featured the flags of Azerbaijan, Algeria, Angola, Afghanistan, Benin, Vietnam, Djibouti, Egypt, India, the Hashemite Kindgom of Jordan, Yemen, Kazakhstan, Cambodia, Cameroon, Kyrgyzstan, Congo, Cuba, Laos, Lebanon, Mozambique, Moldova, Mongolia, Namibia, Nigeria, Nicaragua, Palestine, Sudan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Turkey, Uzbekistan, Chad, Ethiopia, Armenia and Russia.

The forum opened with a speech by the Penza region governor Vasily Bochkarev.

“Of course, a man’s most beautiful time in life is his student years,” he said in his welcoming speech.

The head of the region urged representatives of many nationalities to preserve and treasure the language and culture of their native people.

In his turn, the PSU principal Alexander Gulyakov pointed out that the large-scale students’ forums aimed to unite members of various nationalities are slowly becoming a new tradition for them.

“As the principal, I would be especially pleased if your friendship would continue even after graduating our university, wherever you are, even in different countries, still keeping in touch,” he said.

He was followed by Hamieh Tayssir, vice-dean of the Lebanese University, head of the faculty of Ecology, director of MCEMA Research Laboratory, who began his own speech by congratulating the Penza citizens with the 70th anniversary of the Great Victory.

“Russia is a great country that always managed to keep cultures in a dialogue. Thank you, Russia, for inviting foreign students and always warmly receiving them,” he said.

During the forum, students, professors, staff members and guests of the university are welcomed to visit the so-called “houses” to get acquainted with the literature, music, landmarks, traditions, songs, games, dances, cuisine and crafts of 40 countries and 10 ethnic diasporas represented in the Penza region.

The forum will also include a roundtable discussion titled “Cooperation of members of society during the formation of intercultural youth dialogue” that will involve authorities, educational and youth organizations, and ethnic cultural diasporas.

The law experts will host an interactive lecture titled “Law culture and law awareness as a foundation of intercultural dialogue.”

The forum will conclude in the creation of a common address to the youth all over the world.

The closing ceremony will take place on the grand scene of the Penza Philarmonic Hall at 16.00.