On 4 September 2026, representatives of the Global Youth Dialogue Among Civilizations Alliance (GYDCA) attended the second edition of La Fabrique de la Diplomatie at Sorbonne Nouvelle University in Paris.
Organized on 4 and 5 September by the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, La Fabrique de la Diplomatie is the Ministry’s largest public event. It invites visitors to explore current international issues, meet the actors involved in diplomatic affairs and gain insight into how diplomacy operates behind the scenes.
Exploring diplomacy in all its dimensions
The event brought together a broad range of participants involved in international affairs: government institutions, members of Parliament, local authorities, European institutions, international organizations, diplomats, universities, research institutes, think tanks, civil society organizations, businesses, journalists and students.
This diversity reflected the increasingly wide scope of contemporary diplomacy. International relations are shaped not only by governments and diplomatic missions, but also by researchers, businesses, associations, media organizations and citizens contributing their expertise and perspectives.
Throughout the event, participants were able to engage with major international questions, discover the work of organizations operating across different regions and sectors, and better understand the many professional and institutional pathways connected to diplomacy.
Meetings and emerging collaborations
For GYDCA, the event offered an opportunity to meet professionals and organizations whose work intersects with youth engagement, intercultural dialogue and international cooperation.
Jing Zhang, Xiaoyang Wang and Fany Tambiappa represented GYDCA and held several discussions concerning potential joint initiatives for the 2026–2027 academic year.
Among these meetings was an exchange with Thomas Delage, Editor-in-Chief of Diplomatie magazine. The discussion provided an opportunity to learn more about the publication and its coverage of international affairs through the magazine and the Areion24.news platform. It also opened a conversation about potential future projects involving Diplomatie magazine and GYDCA, including possible initiatives at UNESCO.
Other encounters during the day created additional opportunities to connect with individuals and organizations from the diplomatic, academic, media and civil society communities. These initial discussions will continue in the coming months as GYDCA explores how shared interests can be developed into concrete collaborations.
Creating space for youth within international affairs
La Fabrique de la Diplomatie illustrated the value of making international affairs accessible to a wider audience. By bringing institutions and practitioners into direct contact with students and members of the public, the event allowed participants to move beyond an abstract understanding of diplomacy and engage with those who practise, study and communicate it.
This approach is particularly relevant to GYDCA’s work. Young people need opportunities to meet international actors, ask questions and understand how they can contribute to discussions that affect their societies and their futures.
GYDCA’s participation in the second edition of La Fabrique de la Diplomatie therefore provided both a valuable learning opportunity and a starting point for new partnerships.
The conversations initiated at Sorbonne Nouvelle will now continue beyond the event, with the aim of developing projects that strengthen dialogue across cultures and expand opportunities for meaningful youth participation.
