The platform was stationed near the Musical Comedy Theater. Its visitors were invited to play "Diplomatic Lotto", listen to a master class on diplomatic protocol and etiquette, take a selfie in the photo zone dedicated to Volgograd's sister-cities, and take part in a quiz on the works of our famous compatriot Alexandra Pakhmutova - composer, pianist and songwriter.

Let's remind ourselves what exactly is people's diplomacy!

An honorary citizen of the hero city of Volgograd, head of the Volgograd branch of the Russian Peace Foundation, Yury Starovatykh, gave the following explanation.

"Peace, my friends, does not come by itself. Peace must be fought for. There are different methods of fighting. Of course, the main one is diplomacy at the state level. But now, when official Europe is absorbed in Russophobia, it is the ordinary people, like schoolchildren and students, who can build a bridge to mutual understanding by means ordinary human communication," he said.

"When a teenager from Volgograd discusses ecology with a peer from Germany - this is people's diplomacy at its finest. This is what helps people with different cultures understand each other and hear each other out."

A striking example of such diplomacy was the establishment of the world's first twinning link: when Stalingrad from the USSR and Coventry from England, the two countries with vastly different political situations, became friends because their people wanted it.

"Our city is not only a symbol of victory, but also a bridge between cultures," pointed out Vladlen Kolesnikov, the Chair of Volgograd City Council. "Within the framework of the project, a large number of events are being implemented in various areas: sports, culture, education. One of the key areas is the development of Volgograd as an international expert center. And in Volgograd, since 2016, within the framework of this project, the International Forum of People's Diplomacy "Dialogue on the Volga: Peace and Mutual Understanding in the 21st Century" has been held.

The project "Volgograd - the Capital of People's Diplomacy", initiated by the Governor of the Volgograd Region Andrey Bocharov, is aimed at popularizing the concept of the hero city of Volgograd as a center of international cooperation.

In 2025, this initiative is celebrating its tenth anniversary.

Employees of the Foreign and Regional Relations Directorate of Volgograd Mayor's Office took it upon themselves to demonstrate what the administration of the hero city contributes to people's diplomacy. An interactive exhibition, slide show, and souvenirs helped to illustrate the history and current state of international relations of Volgograd.

'A lot of work is being done, and mainly with young people. Because a third of the city's population are young people; and so, accordingly, the bulk of events are also focused on them and on youth projects, for example, sports competitions. Thus, in August 2025, the Russian-Chinese forum was held in Kazan, within the framework of which a large chess tournament was held. Volgograd players ranked first. Or, for example, our "Volzhanochka" dance ensemble performed triumphantly at the festival in the sister-city of Volgograd, Chengdu (China), last year. Many events are held between Volgograd and Belarusian schoolchildren: these are teleconferences and exchanges between youth organizations standing honorary guard at the monuments of military glory," said the head of the regional relations division Alexander Kiselev.

A most active contribution to the event's program was made by the teachers and students of the School of International Relations and Diplomacy (at the Children and Youth Center of Volgograd) and the Center for People's Diplomacy (of Volgograd State Social and Pedagogical University). Teenagers and students spoke about the work and achievements of their associations – and their performance was in no way inferior to one by experienced speakers!