The Forum is traditionally timed to coincide with the World Cities Day (October 31) designated by the UN General Assembly, and its history fates back to the international twin-cities forums held in Volgograd in 2014 – 2015.

"Dialogue on the Volga" aims to strengthen cooperation, expand international links between civic communities, and thus contribute to the efficient resolution of the most pressing global and regional problems and to the safe and secure development of peoples and countries.

The Forum is co-organized by Volgograd administration, administration of the Volgograd region, the Federal Agency for the Commonwealth of Independent States Affairs, Compatriots Living Abroad, and International Humanitarian Cooperation (Rossotrudnichestvo).

The list of the Forum's participants has traditionally included members of the European Parliament and legislative organs of several countries, members of the State Duma and senators of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, representatives of international cities' associations, Russian municipalities, delegations from Volgograd's twin-cities and partner-cities. The geography of the Forum is continuously expanding in 2016, the event united experts from 12 countries, and in 2020 that number was already 25.

Due to the restrictive measures connected with the spreading of the COVID-19 all over the world, in 2021 the Forum will be held online by means of video-conferencing.

Program of the

International Forum of People's Diplomacy

"Dialogue on the Volga: Peace and Mutual Understanding in the 21st Century"

30 October 2021 (Saturday)

10.00 — 12.00 (Moscow Time Zone, UTC+3) — round table "Russia and China: new trends and opportunities for the interaction between municipalities" (co-organized by Volgograd administration and the Union of Russian Cities, supported by the Chinese International Friendship Cities Association)

13.00 — 15.00 (Moscow Time Zone, UTC+3) — round table "International cooperation among municipalities: new challenges and perspectives" (co-organized by Volgograd administration, and the Eurasia section of the "United Cities and Local Governments" World Organization)

16.00 — 18.00 (Moscow Time Zone, UTC+3) — round table "Russia and Germany: the present and the future of bilateral partnership" (co-organized by Volgograd administration, and the German-Russian Forum)

19.00 – 21.00 (Moscow Time Zone, UTC+3) – round table "Promoting internal tourism on the Volga and Mississippi Rivers during the COVID-19: the experience of city governments" (co-organized by Volgograd administration, the Association of Volga Region Cities, and Sister Cities International)

31 October 2021 (Sunday)

12.00 — 12.30 (Moscow Time Zone, UTC+3) — Celebratory opening ceremony

13.00 — 15.00 (Moscow Time Zone, UTC+3) — discussion "Cities for peace and mutual understanding" (co-organized by Volgograd administration and supported by the "Mayors for Peace" International Organization)

16.00 — 17.30 (Moscow Time Zone, UTC+3) — discussion "Cities as peace messengers" (co-organized by Volgograd administration and the International Association of Peace Messenger Cities)

17.30 — 19.00 (Moscow Time Zone, UTC+3) — General Assembly session of the International Association of Peace Messenger Cities

01 November 2021 (Monday)

12.00 — 15.30 (Moscow Time Zone, UTC+3) — International Saint Alexander Nevsky Conference "Protection of traditional values, and the problems of national security (co-organized by Volgograd diocese, Volgograd administration, Volgograd State Socio-Pedagogical University)