News & Events in Belarus

The opening of the forum was preceded by a number of events important for the Belarusian-Russian cooperation. Among them were Moscow Days in Minsk, the 4^th Russian-Belarusian Youth Forum, the 1^st Festival of Regional TV Companies of Belarus and Russia “The Image of Time” and others.

The international exhibition Belagro 2016, which opens on 7 June, will be held during the Forum of Regions as well. This time the exhibition will take place on the territory of Minsk 1 Airport to feature more than 500 companies from 20 countries.

It is expected that the Forum of Regions will be attended by Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Russia will also be represented by Chairwoman of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of Russia Valentina Matviyenko, Russian Vice Premier Olga Golodets, Minister of Education and Science Dmitry Livanov, Minister of Labor and Social Security Maksim Topilin, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin. Among the participants of the forum will be MPs, heads of federal and regional authorities, businessmen of the two countries.

The program of the forum will include a meeting of the Inter-Parliamentary Commission of the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus and the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation to discuss interregional cooperation. Nine sections will feature the Belarusian-Russian cooperation in labor relations and social security of the population; Belarusian-Russian cultural and humanitarian cooperation in tourism in the historical and modern context; Russian-Belarusian scientific and sci-tech cooperation, current status and development prospects, Russian-Belarusian cooperation in education, current status and development prospects; Belarusian-Russian cooperation in youth policy; Healthcare delivery as the fundamental resource for healthy nation, cooperation within the Belarus-Russia Union State; Mass media as an important factor of interregional interaction, creating a common space of humanitarian values in the Union State; Closer trade and economic relations between regions of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus as an important factor in ensuring the food security of the Union State; Development of cooperation between Belarus and Russia in the industrial field.

A plenary session scheduled for the second day of the forum will discuss the coherent social and economic policy in the Union State.

The forum is aimed at expanding the Belarusian-Russian regional cooperation and promoting direct contacts between regions, enterprises and organizations in the social, economic, scientific, educational, cultural, humanitarian and other areas.