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MINSK, 3 June (BelTA) - The third Forum of Regions of Belarus and Russia will be held in Minsk on 7-8 June, BelTA has learned.

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.

The program of the forum features numerous events, including the 26th Belagro 2016 expo, Festival of Regional TV Channels of Belarus and Russia “The Image of Time”, the second phase of the Union State Spartakiade for Children and Youth, creative children's art marathon “Two Nations, One Destiny”, IT-Youth Forum, a number of international conferences, seminars, and roundtables. The forum delegates will also participate in the Days of Moscow due in Minsk on 7-9 June.

A decision was taken to co-locate Belagro 2016 expo with the Forum of Regions this year. It will be held at the premises of Minsk 1 Airport and will bring together more than 500 companies from 20 countries.

It is expected that the event will be attended by Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko and Russian President Vladimir Putin, Belarusian and Russian MPs, heads of regions of Belarus and the Russian Federation. A meeting to discuss interregional cooperation of the Inter-Parliamentary Commission of the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus and the Council of Federation of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation will be held on the sidelines of the forum.

During a meeting of the organizing committee for the Forum of Regions, Chairman of the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of Belarus Mikhail Myasnikovich stated that “the Belarus-Russia Forum of Regions is a platform to discuss the proposals to improve Belarusian-Russian cooperation in the current economic conditions. In view of the problems facing the world economy, we must support initiatives to minimize the difficulties in the economic and social life of our states,” Mikhail Myasnikovich said.

Mikhail Myasnikovich suggested the rights of citizens in humanitarian issues and the youth policy as the key themes for the forum. “In my opinion, Forum of Regions must focus on two areas. The first one is the equal rights of citizens in our Union State. Previous forums were dedicated to agriculture and manufacturing industry. We discussed the equal conditions for Belarusian and Russian businesses. Now we are talking about humanitarian cooperation. It would be very good if we could align our positions closer. The second theme that I suggest is youth policy,” Mikhail Myasnikovich said.

Vice Chairman of the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of Belarus Anatoly Rusetsky said that the forum will be attended by more than 350 people. Before the start of the official part representatives of Belarus and Russia will hold talks and sign contracts.

The forum will work in 9 sections: Belarusian-Russian cooperation in labor and social security; Belarusian-Russian cultural and humanitarian cooperation and ties in tourism: historical and contemporary context; Russian-Belarusian cooperation in science. Status and development prospects; Russian-Belarusian cooperation in education. Status and development prospects; Belarusian-Russian cooperation in youth policy; Medical assistance as a critical resource for preserving the health of the nation. Cooperation within the framework of 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.