Egypt’s President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi launched on Sunday the World Youth Forum, calling on the Egyptian and global youth to adopt objective dialogue and peaceful coexistence without discriminating against age, race, sex or party in order to build the future and civilization.
He also said: “Terrorism violates our humanity and resisting it is a human right.”
“Egypt seeks to play its historical role in shaping a vision for peace and stability," he continued, adding that Cairo is engaged in two parallel wars, one against terrorism and another for development and construction.
Held at the Red Sea resort city of Sharm El Sheikh, the forum, which concludes on Thursday, brings together over 3,200 youths from 113 states representing different parts of the world under the slogan of "We Need to Talk."
The event includes 46 sessions and workshops to discuss various key issues, including the employment of youth to achieve sustainable development, as well as fighting terrorism, extremism and illegal immigration.
Sisi asserted that the future vision of Egypt’s youth is derived from their Pharaonic ancestors, who built the first human civilization and set the initial principles of stability and peace in the world.
Among the most prominent participants at the forum were Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Ruler of Sharjah Sultan bin Muhammad al-Qasimi, Yemeni Prime Minister Ahmed Obaid bin Daghr, Lebanese Speaker of the Parliament Nabih Berri, Jordanian Prince Hassan bin Talal and the United Nations envoy to Egypt.
In one year, Egypt has managed to organize five youth conferences, starting from October 2016 in Sharm El Sheikh. Conferences were scheduled to be held periodically in several governorates, including Aswan, Alexandria and Ismailia. The World Youth Forum was the first to include international participants.
A number of state officials and youth representatives gave speeches during the opening session on Sunday evening, including the administrator of the UN Development Program Achim Steiner, who attended on behalf of UN Secretary General Antonio Guiterres.
