Egypt Represents Arab World at Russia’s 100th Anniversary Celebration of Public Diplomacy

Egypt represented the Arab world at Russia’s grand celebration marking 100 years of Russian public diplomacy, held in the capital Moscow with the participation of senior Russian officials, cultural figures, artists, intellectuals, and guests from over 100 countries.

The event commemorated the centenary of the founding of Russia’s public diplomacy, which began in 1925 with the establishment of the Institute of Public Diplomacy and the launch of Russian cultural centers abroad, then known as Soviet cultural centers.

The celebration was organized by the Federal Agency for International Cooperation (Rossotrudnichestvo), the Russkiy Kongress Foundation, the Russian Znanie Society, and the Russian National Center, with support from the Presidential Council for Civil Society and Human Rights.

President Vladimir Putin extended his congratulations through a written message delivered by his advisor Valery Fadeev, commending the agency for its efforts to present “the civilized face of Russia abroad.” Putin highlighted that, “despite the challenging global context, the agency has successfully built bridges with friendly nations and promoted Russian culture positively and deeply beyond its borders.”

Congratulatory speeches were also delivered by Konstantin Kosachev, Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council; Patriarch Kirill of Moscow; Leonid Slutsky, Chairman of the State Duma Committee on International Affairs; and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

Egypt was the only Arab country represented in the opening session, where it was represented by Egyptian journalist and writer Ibrahim Dawood. In his address, Dawood highlighted the historic depth of Egyptian-Russian relations, recalling the Nasser era as a period of remarkable bilateral cooperation. He also praised the Russian Cultural Center in Cairo, which has long served as a hub for Egyptian intellectuals and artists and played a major role in strengthening cultural ties between the two nations.

Yevgeny Primakov, Head of the Federal Agency for International Cooperation, emphasized the importance of Russian cultural centers abroad in fostering “friendship and mutual understanding among peoples.”

Sherif Gad, Head of Cultural Activities at the Russian Cultural Center in Cairo, President of the Russian and Soviet University Graduates Association, and Secretary-General of the Egyptian-Russian Friendship Association, said:

“Having worked for 37 years within the Russian cultural framework in Egypt, I have witnessed firsthand how Russian public diplomacy deepened cultural exchange between our peoples. The Russian centers in Cairo and Alexandria became vital bridges for cultural dialogue, translation, and artistic cooperation, particularly during the 1960s.”

Today, under the leadership of Vadim Zaitchikov, the Russian Cultural Centers in Egypt continue to expand their outreach, bringing Russian culture to schools, universities, and provinces across the country, reinforcing the enduring friendship between the Egyptian and Russian peoples.