SIRIUS /Federal Territory/, March 2. /TASS/. Most people around the world share the traditional values and therefore they should team up to stand up for them, Russian President Vladimir Putin said in a video address to participants of the World Youth Festival.

In his address, he mentioned equality and justice, traditions of a strong family and mutual assistance, serving one’s Fatherland and feeling responsibility for its destiny.

"I know that these values are shared by the vast majority of the Earth’s inhabitants. This is why we must take care of them and defend them together, fulfil our dreams together, and help each other to make the lives of billions of people - let me stress this - billions of people better," Putin said.

The Russian president believes that people should joint efforts for the sake of future generations, fight poverty and terrorism, diseases and drug trafficking, and to preserve the unique natural riches, their cultural heritage, and Earth’s beauty and diversity.

"This world has no place for racism, dictatorship, double standards or lies, and people are free to speak their language and follow the beliefs and traditions of their ancestors," he stressed.

Putin added that he was truly delighted to welcome the participants and guests of the World Youth Festival, "the ambassadors of various countries and nations that Russia brought together here, in Sochi."

The president recalled that Russia had already held three of such large-scale youth forums, each time proving that "there are no borders or dividing lines for younger generations."

"You can interact with whomever you wish and find the knowledge and experience you need. This was proven by the hundreds of thousands of applications to take part in the festival that we received from 190 countries. The only thing we regret is not being able to accept all of them," the Russian president said.

World Youth Festival

The festival is taking place in the Sirius Federal Territory on March 1-7, 2024. Over 300,000 people from 190 countries applied to take part in it. Participants in the festival’s regional program will visit 30 Russian cities on March 10-17. TASS is the event’s general information partner.