Slovenian Day in Vienna: Slovenia, a country of dialogue, cooperation and creativity

Peace Child concert | Author Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs

On the eve of the 80th anniversary of the United Nations, the renowned Wiener Konzerthaus hosted a musical performance entitled Peace Child. The project was held under the honorary patronage of the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, Tanja Fajon.

In her opening address, Minister Fajon said that the world today is marked by wars, division, uncertainty and shifting borders. "However," she stressed, "there is one border that must never be blurred - the border between humanity and indifference." The Peace Child project united the worlds of art, education, science and business, as well as different cultures and generations, creating a shared space for cooperation and mutual respect.

It has evolved from an artistic and educational residency that brought together 169 young musicians from 18 countries in Brdo pri Kranju this summer and premiered in August at the Križanke Summer Theatre in Ljubljana. The performance has since become a powerful artistic expression of dialogue, solidarity and hope.

In Vienna, young musicians from Slovenia, the Palestinian youth choir Amwaj, the Superar girls' choir from Bosnia and Herzegovina and musicians from Ukraine performed alongside an Austrian youth choir. Together, they sent a moving message of peace, cooperation and solidarity through music.

As a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, Slovenia used the event to reaffirm its commitment to peace, dialogue and intercultural understanding. The SIT DOWN initiative demonstrated how cultural diplomacy can foster social change, empower young people and inspire future generations to build a better world. Minister Fajon noted: "In the future, the world will need not only engineers and programmers, but above all people who understand one another. Let us give young people a voice - so that they can dream, create and remind us of what truly matters."

Earlier in the day, Vienna also hosted the Austria-Slovenia Business Forum: Connected for the Future, organised by SPIRIT Slovenia and Advantage Austria at the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber, with the support of Slovenia's Ministry of the Economy, Tourism and Sport.

The Forum was opened by State Secretary Matevž Frangež and brought together numerous representatives of Slovenian and Austrian companies. Discussions focused on hydrogen as an energy source of the future and the role of artificial intelligence in medicine - two fields set to play a decisive role in Europe's development. The event also offered opportunities for networking and bilateral meetings, strengthening economic cooperation between the two countries.

Slovenian Day in Vienna also featured a range of accompanying events, including visits by Slovenian students to the UN headquarters, diplomatic missions and the Business Forum. These activities further deepened ties between the two countries, showcasing how the interplay of culture, diplomacy and business can inspire a shared European future.

Through initiatives such as Slovenian Day in Vienna, Slovenia continues to position itself in the international community as a country of dialogue, cooperation and creativity - uniting people, ideas and visions for a better tomorrow. Slovenian Day in Vienna offered eloquent proof that diplomacy, culture and business can work hand in hand to create a more connected and peaceful world.

Prior to the day's economic and cultural events, Minister Fajon held a bilateral meeting with the Austrian Federal Minister for European and International Affairs, Beate Meinl-Reisinger.