Opinions & Interviews

“It is symbolic that Podolsk is hosting the meeting. This year we celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Great Victory, and this city played an important role in defending Moscow from Nazi invaders. Today it is a major industrial center of Moscow Oblast that maintains twinning ties with many foreign cities and towns,” the letter reads.

Vladimir Putin emphasized the importance of the twinning ties that connect dozens of Belarusian and Russian cities. “Their close and fruitful cooperation in different fields advances the social and economic development of our countries and is an important factor for strengthening the Union State and the Eurasian Economic Union. The agenda of your meeting includes matters related to the development and implementation of joint economic, investment, and infrastructure projects, programs of cooperation in culture, healthcare, and sports, and promotion of exchange of best practices between municipal authorities, research centers and institutions, public organizations, and business associations,” Vladimir Putin said.

The President expressed confidence that the meeting will help further intensify the mutually beneficial ties between Russian and Belarusian cities for the benefit of the two nations.

“I would also like to use this opportunity to extend greetings to the representatives of the Belarusian public organization Twinned Towns that has recently marked the 20th anniversary of its founding. I wish all the participants fruitful work and all the best,” Vladimir Putin noted.

The welcome letter was read out by Deputy Chairperson of the Moscow Oblast Government Elmira Khaimurzina.