Bridge of Friendship and Specific Deeds: XIV Forum of Twin Cities of Belarus and Russia opened in Bobruisk

In Bobruisk opened the XIV Forum of twin cities of Belarus and Russia. The large-scale event brought together representatives of 32 Belarusian and 40 Russian cities. The program of the forum is focused on the intensification of interregional contacts, sb.by correspondent reports.

In addition to the plenary session, the key practical blocks of the event were specialized sectional work and the 3rd Youth Meeting of twin cities of the two countries. Within the framework of the sections, participants will focus on the formation of conscious unity, the search for new points of support in the context of modern geopolitical challenges and the consolidation of socio-economic opportunities of cities.

Heads of state bodies, profile associations and local administrations addressed the participants with welcoming words. The speakers stressed the strategic importance of people’s diplomacy and horizontal ties, which serve as the foundation for the Union building, and outlined a course to strengthen business and cross-border partnership.

- Such meetings help not only to preserve friendship, but also to fill it with concrete deeds, joint projects in all spheres of life. This forum can rightly be called one of the most lively and popular mechanisms of union building. The twinning movement is not just a protocol agreement or an exchange of delegations, it is a living mechanism of cooperation that helps to develop humanitarian and business contacts.

In total, more than 90 Russian municipalities and 35 cities and district centers of Belarus are currently interacting within the framework of the twinning institute, said Boris Batura, Chairman of the Board of the Belarusian public association “Native Cities”.

“The resource is not weak and is able to solve many problems,” he said. In our previous forums, we paid more attention to historical memory and humanitarian experience. These issues have not left the agenda, but we must improve in the new multipolar reality. Life has confirmed that twinning is the best socio-cultural practice of joining forces. At the same time, I would like to see more effective approaches to business cooperation. We are waiting for proposals to create additional platforms of interaction.

The challenges that Belarus and Russia are experiencing today in economic and social terms make our countries only stronger and more united, said Deputy Secretary of State, member of the Standing Committee of the Union State Ivan Tsetsersky.

150 agreements and agreements on inter-municipal cooperation have been signed in the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus. If you cover the matrix of Belarus, there is no municipality that does not have such an agreement. Then more. Just a week ago, the Council of Ministers of the Union State adopted a strategy for the development of youth policy. We also got the task to start forming a major program on cross-border cooperation between three regions of Russia and three regions of Belarus, said Ivan Tsetsersky.

Chairman of the Bobruisk City Executive Committee Maxim Gurin, on the rights of the host party, elaborated on the cooperation of the city with the Russian side. Maxim Gurin says:

- The development of partnership relations with the regions of the Russian Federation is a key direction of interregional development of Bobruisk. In total, the city signed agreements with 35 partners, including 21 regions of Russia. These connections are proven by time and practice. In 2025-2026, we expanded our twinning relations with six regions. Bobruisk industrialists account for 21 percent of the region's production. Almost 45 percent of the products produced are exported, of which 80 percent are traditionally Russian regions. Belshina, Bobruiskagromash, Bobruisk Biotechnology Plant and Red Distillery have an active distribution network in Moscow, Nizhny Novgorod, Smolensk and other Russian cities. In the Vologda region, a joint assembly production of tractor parts was created. In the face of sanctions pressure, it is extremely important for us to expand our markets, considering the Russian Federation as a strategic partner.

The practical result of the opening of the forum was the official appearance of new twinning pairs. The partnership status and obligations for the development of comprehensive cooperation were recorded by Luninets and the Vadsky municipal district of the Nizhny Novgorod region, Round and Raskazovo of the Tambov region, Kostyukovichi and the municipal formation of the Narva district, the Belarusian Society of Friendship and Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries and the Federal National and Cultural Autonomy of Belarusians of Russia.

The official part ended with the transition of delegates to the practical implementation of the agenda within the thematic sections. Participants will focus on developing joint solutions in the field of import substitution, expanding industrial cooperation and creating additional platforms for business partnership. Special attention will be paid to culture and tourism, social projects, preservation of historical memory and implementation of the new Union strategy of youth policy.

Photo on the announcement: archive "SB"