I.Metshin: “Cultural ties between cities of different countries contribute to the growth of mutual understanding among nations”

The BRICS Friendship Cities and Local Governments Cooperation Forum has opened in Beijing today. The key topics of the event are the cooperation of friendship cities, open innovation, digital development, resource sharing, cultural exchange and connection between people. Representatives of more than 110 cities take part in the forum. The Mayor of Kazan Ilsur Metshin, President of the UN Advisory Committee of Local Authorities (UNACLA), joined them online.

At the opening ceremony of the Dialogue of Local Authorities meeting, the participants were welcomed by the President of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries Lin Songtian, UAE Ambassador Ali Al Daheri, Ambassador of the Argentine Republic Sabino Vaca Narvaja and others.

Ilsur Metshin made a report on cultural exchanges and ties between nations. “For 17 years now, I have been the mayor of a city where cultural exchanges have become a hallmark and one of the priorities of our development strategy,”- the Mayor stressed and noted that representatives of more than 115 nationalities live in peace and harmony in the capital of Tatarstan. Every year, the city hosts events where representatives of different nations and cultures perform their traditional costumes and dishes, creative performances and folk-art works.

“We all understand that it is necessary to talk not only about cultural exchanges within one city. Cultural ties between cities of different countries, being a priority area of humanitarian cooperation, contribute to the growth of mutual understanding between nations. And this affects the stability of international relations,”- I. Metshin drew attention.

He noted that Kazan has signed twinning and partnership agreements with 60 cities. The most successful is cooperation in culture, education, tourism and preservation of cultural heritage. Last year Kazan became the host of the 17th World Conference of the League of Historical Cities, the Mayor reported. Representatives of more than 200 cities took part in the meeting. Since 2019, the capital of Tatarstan has been included in the UNESCO Network of Creative Cities, which are developing in such creative areas as music, decorative, applied and folk art, design, cinematography, literature, media art or gastronomy.

“Cultural exchanges are designed to establish and maintain long–term ties between cities, countries, public organizations and people, to contribute to the establishment of cooperation in other vital areas, - I. Metshin said. - I am very glad that today we can exchange experience on this issue, because only through constructive dialogue can we maintain the stability of international relations.”

The BRICS Friendship Cities and Local Government Cooperation Forum is supported by the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), the Chinese Association of International Friendship Cities (CIFCA), the People's Government of Fujian Province and Xiamen City.

The speakers from China, South Africa, Brazil and India participate in the forum. Russia is represented by the President of the Union of Cities of the Russian Federation, the head of Tyumen Ruslan Kukharuk, the Governor of the Amur Region Vasily Orlov, the Governor of the Chelyabinsk Region Alexey Teksler, the chair of the Russian-Chinese Friendship Society Ivan Melnikov and others.