MINSK, 24 June (BelTA) - The 8th Forum of Regions of Belarus and Russia will be held on 29 June - 1 July. Its main events will be held online due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Chairman of the Standing Commission of the Council of the Republic for International Affairs and National Security Sergei Rachkov told BelTA.
"We are actively preparing for this event. We expect it to go smooth. The organizing committee is led by the vice speakers of the Council of the Republic and the Federation Council. All ministries and departments are involved,” Sergei Rachkov said. “The first day, 29 June, will feature five panel discussions. The panel discussions, which will be hosted by the Federation Council in Moscow and various venues in Minsk (Presidential Library, Council of the Republic, Belarusian Institute of Strategic Studies (BISI) will discuss the main theme of the forum ‘Cooperation in science and technology between Russia and Belarus in the era of digitalization' in different avenues: medicine, education, law-making, international relations and youth."
The inter-parliamentary commission of the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of Belarus and the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation will hold the eighth meeting on interregional cooperation via a video link on 30 June. The members of the commission, ministers will consider ways of expanding business and cooperation ties between the economic entities of our countries and discuss the concerted policy in the field of environmental protection and natural resources.
On 30 June, an online meeting of the Council of Business Cooperation of the Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Belarus and Russia will discuss the impact of the pandemic on the economy of the Union State.
The key event of the forum - the plenary session – will be attended by Belarusian and Russian MPS, representatives of the regions of the Republic of Belarus and the subjects of the Russian Federation, heads of the relevant ministries of the two countries, large enterprises and organizations, representatives of the Standing Committee of the Union State. It will adopt the outcome document of the forum which will reflect the recommendations to the government agencies of Belarus and Russia, local governments of both countries, integration organizations.
"We have been taking stock of the documents already signed and the outcome documents of the forums and we can say that the effect is noticeable. Let's take last year's forum for example. At the panel discussion which I moderated we discussed the inadmissibility of the glorification of Nazism. Our recommendations formed the basis of the relevant law, which was recently adopted in Belarus,” the senator said. “At the 8th Forum of Regions, at a panel discussion we are set to analyze how the Union State programs and scientific and technical projects are implemented within the framework of international treaties. The emphasis will be on how the results of research and technology programs and projects of the Union State are applied in the real sector of the economy. This is why we have invited scientists of the academies of sciences, heads of large industrial enterprises, representatives of international structures to speak and discuss these issues."
Sergei Rachkov drew attention to the youth agenda of the upcoming forum. "Traditionally, youth policy is on the radar o the forum. This year this component will be more pronounced. It has been a year since the Youth Parliament of the National Assembly was established. We are planning a joint meeting of the governing bodies of the Chamber of Young Legislators at the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation and the Youth Council (Parliament) of the National Assembly of Belarus. These structures are set to sign a cooperation agreement and draw up a plan of joint activities. In this way, the interaction of the youth of our countries will become systemic," he said.
The senator added that the forums of regions already have a solid baggage of signed agreements and contracts, ties between regions, enterprises, ordinary people. "They have rightly become landmark events for our countries and peoples, primarily due to the participation and attention of the heads of state. This year we expect to see a record volume in commercial contracts - $900 million. The largest ones will be signed by MogilevKhimvolokno, Belneftekhim abd Grdono Meat Plant. To compare, it was $100 million at the 2nd Forum of Regions in 2015,” he said. “More than 40 cooperation agreements are to be signed during the 8th Forum of Regions. The main focus is on the economy. Issues of humanitarian and cultural cooperation will be also on the agenda."
According to Sergei Rachkov, each forum becomes a platform for discussing the most pressing issues of bilateral cooperation. "The current forum will highlight one of the priorities of the Union State development: the development of the scientific and technological space of the Union State. Digitalization of all sectors opens up completely new opportunities yet carries serious challenges and threats. We plan to discuss various aspects of the modern digital agenda with our Russian partners," he concluded.
