Russian President Vladimir Putin welcomed the participants of the International Youth Festival as it got underway in the city of Ekaterinburg on Sunday. The event has attracted 10,000 young people from some 191 countries

In his video address, Putin noted that the Russian word ‘mir’ simultaneously stands for peace and accord, as well as the world and humanity as a whole. This linguistic overlap is key to understanding the unique “character of Russia’s multi-ethnic nation, our decisions and actions,” the president said.

“We want every person to remain human and for their fate to be determined by things other than nationality, a wallet packed with money, status, or background,” he stated, adding that Russia advocates equal access for every nation to medication, food, water, energy, and education opportunities, as well as the latest technology.

“If you share these aspirations, let’s change the world together,” Putin told the festival attendees.