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VITBESK, 24 June (BelTA) - Rezekne (Latvia) intends to strengthen ties with Vitebsk through cross-border cooperation programs, Deputy Chairman of Rezekne City Council Alexei Stets told reporters in Vitebsk.

“Vitebsk and Rezekne need to expand interaction while actively participating in cross-border cooperation programs financed by the EU. Now we have new areas such as energy efficiency, green technology. We need to develop joint projects and ideas in these areas of cross-border cooperation. We also are mindful of the fact that during this period of planning (seven years in the EU), a large part of funding will be used to create additional jobs and restore degraded lands. I hope we will be able to implement joint initiatives in this area as well,” Alexei Stets said.

When talking about the areas of cooperation which are currently important for the cities, Alexei Stets noted that last year an agreement on cooperation was signed between the Free Economic Zone Vitebsk and the Rezekne Special Economic Zone. Since last year, the tourist flows between Rezekne and Vitebsk have increased. “We have already stepped beyond merely cultural and social relations. Our cooperation is now more results-oriented. This is confirmed by the economic relationships and tourist ties,” Alexei Stets noted.

He stressed that this year marks 20 years of the twinning agreement between Rezekne and Vitebsk. “For Rezekne it was the first agreement of this kind. Simply put, Vitebsk became our first twinned partner,” the guest added.

Celebrations on the occasion of the 1042nd anniversary of Vitebsk began in the city on 24 June. The regional center is welcoming guests including the delegations from the sister cities, representatives of foreign states and regions of Belarus. The guests met with the city authorities and talked to media.