MINSK, 17 January (BelTA) – It is necessary to improve the economic effectiveness of cooperation with twinned cities in other countries. The statement was made by Boris Batura, Chairman of the Board of the Belarusian public association Twinned Cities, at a meeting held on 17 January to hear out reports and elect new officials, BelTA has learned.
Boris Batura stressed that economy is one of the most important components in the work of the public association. Good dynamics of rising trade turnover and the implementation of investment programs between Belarusian cities, districts, and their partners has been registered in the last few years. The best practices are constantly shared in various spheres, including urban self-government. The number of exchange visits in the area of culture, education, and international programs has increased.
The Belarusian public association Twinned Cities includes 34 Belarusian cities and towns twinned with 451 cities and towns in 38 countries across the globe. The number of countries, with which Belarusian partners interact, is on the rise.
The association's Executive Secretary Nina Ivanova said that five bilateral international meetings have been arranged in the last three years. In 2017 the ninth meeting of twinned cities of Belarus and Russia took place in Mogilev and a meeting of Pomorskie Voivodeship towns with twinned cities in Belarus took place in Gdansk. The fourth meeting of twinned cities of Belarus and Poland took place in Baranovichi in 2017. The tenth meeting of twinned cities of Belarus and Germany took place in Wittenberg in 2018. Representatives of Belarusian and Polish twinned cities met in Molodechno in 2019.
Vigorous international cooperation of Mogilev, Brest, Zhodino, Novopolotsk, Baranovichi, Pinsk, Kobrin, Nesvizh, Grodno, and many other ones was mentioned.
Smolevichi, Krugloye, and Volkovysk have joined the association. The matter of excluding three towns that do not actively participate in the work of the association was discussed. Boris Batura was reelected chairman of the Belarusian public association Twinned Cities.
Meetings of representatives of twinned cities and towns of Belarus and Germany, Belarus and Russia, and Belarus and Ukraine are supposed to be organized this year.
