The D-8 Youth Dialogue got underway in Azerbaijan for the first time. The Dialogue was officially inaugurated on December 6.

The event began with the performance of the National Anthem of the Republic of Azerbaijan. Then, a short video was screened.

In his opening remarks, Azerbaijani Minister of Youth and Sports Farid Gayibov, highlighted the youth policy implemented in the country and noted the country leadership's constant support for young people. The minister emphasized that the dialogue will contribute to the development of relations between young people in the participating countries and the implementation of joint initiatives.

Isiaka Abdulqadir Imam, Secretary-General of the D-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation, expressed his optimism that the dialogue would be important in strengthening corporate ties among the youth of D-8 countries. The Secretary General expressed his gratitude to Azerbaijan for its worthy organization of the Dialogue.

“Azerbaijan maintains active participation within the D-8 organization. Today, the Azerbaijani government supports the events implemented by the D-8 organization,” he emphasized.

Noting that young people are the architects of the future, Anar Guliyev, Chairman of the State Committee for Urban Planning and Architecture of Azerbaijan, stated that the appearance of cities is shaped by their technological and creative capabilities. The committee chairman emphasized the crucial role of youth in driving future innovation, particularly within the D-8 (Developing Eight) framework, by generating new ideas for education, employment, and societal challenges.

In his remarks, Azerbaijan`s Deputy Foreign Minister, COP29 Lead Negotiator Yalchin Rafiyev touched upon the role of youth in the global climate agenda. The Deputy Minister described the D-8 Youth Dialogue as an essential platform for sharing ideas among young people.

Somalia's Minister of Youth and Sports, Mohamed Abdulkadir, attended the event as a special guest, emphasized the importance of inter-country unity and exchange of experiences in dialogue.

Merna Alzurikat, UN Young Leader for the Sustainable Development Goals and Director of Communications and Outreach at the Jordan Space Research Initiative (JSRI) stressed the importance of global interaction within the framework of the Sustainable Development Goals.

The opening session continued with an exchange of views with representatives from participating countries.

The D-8 Youth Dialogue will feature panel discussions on youth policy, innovation, climate, and urbanization in the coming days.