The annual conference is aimed at consolidating scientists and practitioners in solving social problems of the regional community, as well as supporting young scientists and researchers in the field of regional studies, sociology, political science, history, and philosophy.

The conference was opened with a welcoming speech by the scientific director of the Institute of Sociology and Regional Studies of the Southern Federal University, Honored Scientist of the Russian Federation, Doctor of Philosophy, Professor Yuri Volkov:

"At the turn of the XX-XXI centuries, there is no person equal to the personality of Yuri Andreevich Zhdanov. Rostov-on-Don and Rostov—on-Don and the entire South of Russia are two main events of the 20th century that changed the intellectual, educational, cultural and scientific picture of Rostov-on-Don and the entire South of Russia - these are the events of 1915, when a new university was founded on the Don and when Yuri Andreevich came to Rostov-on-Don and headed Rostov State University for more than 30 years. Thanks to Yuri Andreevich, SFedU today has a huge experience and a base for the implementation of breakthrough research projects," said Yuri Volkov.

Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Doctor of Chemical Sciences, Professor, Scientific supervisor of the Southern Federal University Vladimir Minkin noted Yuri Zhdanov's significant contribution not only to philosophy, sociology, organizational activities, but also in the field of natural sciences. He also stressed that Yuri Andreevich Zhdanov was distinguished by a universalist method of thinking. 

"Yuri Andreevich Zhdanov was an outstanding natural scientist, chemist, In 1961 he founded the Department of Chemistry of Natural and high-molecular compounds, it was the second such department in the USSR, and invited me to work at it. Under his guidance, I worked at this department for 20 years and, at his insistence, took over the leadership of the Research Institute. Yuri Andreevich chose for himself as a science the most difficult field of organic chemistry — carbohydrates, but already here we can see his universalist method of thinking. Yuri Andreevich wrote more than 800 articles, we prepared about 40 together, we also prepared six monographs with him, three of them were published abroad," Vladimir Minkin shared his memories.

Vladimir Isaakovich also presented diplomas to the winners of the XVII International Competition of scientific works named after Yu.A. Zhdanov in the nomination "Experienced scientists".

Vladimir Gurba, Deputy Plenipotentiary Representative of the President of the Russian Federation in the Southern Federal District, also made a welcoming speech, noting how important it is today to preserve the memory of outstanding personalities like Yuri Zhdanov, who was not just a scientist and a talented organizer of science, but also a real teacher who brought up several generations of teachers and scientists.

Vladimir Nikolaevich presented diplomas of the XVII International Competition of scientific works named after Yu. A. Zhdanov in the nomination "Young scientists".

Also, on behalf of the Rector of SFedU, Anatoly Metelitsa, Vice-Rector for Scientific and Research Activities of SFedU, greeted the guests and participants and noted the fundamental role of Yuri Zhdanov in the formation of the Southern Federal University as a research center in the South of Russia. Anatoly Viktorovich also presented letters of thanks "For the promotion and development of ideas and values of Yu.A. Zhdanov".

Andrey Zhdanov, Chairman of the Yuri Andreevich Zhdanov Foundation for the Development of Science, Culture and Education, made a welcoming speech and expressed gratitude to all those present for the kind words said about Yuri Andreevich.

To mark the 25th anniversary of Regional Studies, the collection "The Principle of intellectual synthesis according to Yu.A. Zhdanov" was published at the Southern Federal University under the editorship of Professor Yuri Volkov. It includes selected works by Corresponding member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Professor Yuri Zhdanov, including those published in central journals over the years, and materials from the Y.A. Zhdanov Foundation, stored in the State Archive of the Rostov region. The collection of aphorisms also contains poems by Yuri Andreevich Zhdanov from poetry notebooks "Give yourself to the Spirit". Students of the Institute of Sociology and Regional Studies of the Southern Federal University recited several poems by Yuri Andreevich.

The first deputy chairman of the Public Chamber of the Rostov region, Candidate of Economic Sciences Yuri Zershchikov awarded the winners of the Y.A. Zhdanov International Annual Competition of Scientific Papers. The winners were undergraduate and graduate students of the Institute of Sociology and Regional Studies of the Southern Federal University: Yuri Sidorov Roman Lopatin, Miroslava Mironchuk, Ekaterina Polyakova, Olga Lozova.

The readings ended with a series of scientific reports by students of the SFedU Institute of Sociology and Regional Studies.