Events

Valentina Matvienko makes a speech at the opening of the plenary session of the 6th Forum of Russian and Belarusian Regions

This year the forum is devoted to the formation of a common cultural and humanitarian space.


Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matvienko made a speech at the opening of the plenary session of the 6th Forum of Russian and Belarusian Regions.

She noted that each new forum signifies an advance on the road of the union’s development and comprehensive integration, and provides a good pretext for assessing the work done in the past year, and an opportunity to discuss problems and map out prospects for further cooperation.

 “This year has been special for Russian-Belarusian relations. We are celebrating the 20th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty on the Creation of a Union State of Russia and Belarus. During this period we have proved that we can achieve impressive results by pooling our efforts,” Ms Matvienko said. 

Each new forum signifies an advance on the road of the union’s development

According to Valentina Matviyeno, during the years of integration, trade between the two countries increased more than six times. Over 8,000 Russian and Belarusian companies are involved in production cooperation. Ms Matvienko noted the importance of implementing such major investment projects as the construction of a two-unit nuclear power plant in Ostrovets.

Valentina Matvienko’s speech at the plenary session of the 6th Forum of Russian and Belarusian Regions

“The formation of the Union State became the prelude to Eurasian economic integration,” Ms Matvienko said. She noted that Russian-Belarusian integration is not limited to the economy. “The aura of good neighbourly relations and mutual support is bringing our countries success in all areas, including sports. Dialogue in the language of sports remains an effective instrument of human communication,” she said.

“Humanitarian ties promote mutual understanding, empathy and friendship between nations. They create an atmosphere of trust and co-creation,” she said.

The Federation Council Speaker recalled that Russia and Belarus are linked by a shared educational space. Both countries recognise each other’s academic programmes, diplomas and academic degrees. There are over 300 cooperation agreements between the universities. “Their implementation leads to specific practical results,” Ms Matvienko said.

She noted that most Russian regions have joint educational projects with Belarus. “It is necessary to work in this direction and expand the groundwork for educational contacts and the appearance of new joint youth projects,” Ms Matvienko said.

She suggested that Belarusian young people should take part in various youth forums in the Russian regions.

The Speaker emphasised the need for more active participation by Belarusian young people in the Russian contest “Leaders of Russia.” “The young people of Russia and Belarus are interested not just in dialogue but in joint practical activities. Joint efforts are essential for rapprochement among the younger generations,” she said.

 “The signing of the agreement on scientific and technical cooperation between the Russian Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus opens up major prospects for our countries. The same applies to the agreement on scientific and technical cooperation between the International Competence Centre for Mining-Engineering Education, St Petersburg Mining University and BELAZ. These agreements are much in demand. Without scientific support it is impossible to carry out our strategic programmes on electronics, outer space and medicine,” Ms Matvienko said. In this context, she also mentioned a global mega project on creating transport corridors, including a high-speed railway.

“We have everything necessary for pooling our intellectual and creative potentials and occupying leading positions in the development of cutting edge innovation industries,” she said.

Ms Matvienko recalled that in 2020, it will be the 75th anniversary of the victory in the Great Patriotic War. “The victory is a major part of our genetic code. Regrettably, today we are increasingly often faced with the need to counter attempts to distort the truth about the war. Serious measures must be taken so that the memory of the war is not limited to dull phrases in textbooks,” she said, drawing attention to the influence of art in the formation of world outlook, especially among children and young people.

“The plan for cooperation between the ministries of culture of Russia and Belarus for 2019−2021 was approved in April of this year. A working group has been formed. I think it should pay attention to the development of cinematography and inter-regional cooperation in museum studies and library science, as well as theatre and the performing arts,” Ms Matvienko said.

The Speaker noted that ideas on further strengthening the Union State and developing inter-regional cooperation will be reflected in the forum’s final document.

Plenary session of the 6th Forum of Russian and Belarusian Regions on the subject “Interregional ties as the foundation for the formation of common cultural and humanitarian space of the Russian and Belarusian people.” Transcript of 18 July 2019

“This is not a declaration but a strictly working document, a clear-cut programme of joint action. The citizens of Russia and Belarus are waiting for further decisions on the development of integration within the Union State. The task of MPs is to facilitate this process as much as possible,” the Federation Council Speaker said in conclusion.

Speaker of the Council of the National Assembly of Belarus Mikhail Myasnikovich said that the forum received new projects, agreements and commercial contracts every year. “This shows that the idea of this forum is viable. It is trusted and has not exhausted its potential.”

He noted that for the first time, the forum offered wide coverage of humanitarian issues, education, culture, tourism, the media and youth affairs: “Russia is a great country and we cherish our friendship. It is important to transfer these sacred relations to the younger generation.” Mr Myasnikovich noted the need to make youth cooperation between Belarus and Russia more dynamic.

Deputy Prime Minister of Belarus Igor Petrishenko recalled that bilateral social and humanitarian cooperation had long-standing good traditions. “We have the legislation that allows us to successfully carry out numerous joint projects in education, culture, sports and tourism. We have good ties between our universities,” he said. He noted that youth policy was a growth point for the Union State with which the future of its nations was linked.

Russian Minister of Culture Vladimir Medinsky said the two countries must focus on intensifying their regional cooperation. “We will give priority to supporting direct ties between Russian and Belarusian cultural institutions,” he said, emphasising that 12 agreements were signed in this area at the previous session of the forum.

Belarusian Minister of the Economy Dmitry Krutoi spoke about the need to bring the living standards in the two countries closer together with a view to strengthening the Union State. “Today, there is a certain gap between our two states in terms of economic development levels but we do not regard this as a problem but rather as a reserve for the growth of our economies through cooperation, trade and investment policy,” he said.

Russian Minister of Economic Development Maxim Oreshkin pointed out that during the 20 years of existence of the Union State, the two countries had created a unique integration model, relying on a common history and geographical proximity. “Our economic cooperation model functions on the principles of equality and mutual respect.” He emphasised that Russia is the leading trade partner of Belarus. In turn, Belarus occupies the fourth place after such major Russian partners as China and Germany.

State Secretary of the Union State Grigory Rapota said a major factor in preserving and developing the common cultural space is the Russian language, which has the status of national language in Belarus. He noted that it was necessary to continue paying priority attention to the preservation of shared historical memory and victory memorials and to expand educational, scientific and cultural ties.

Russian Minister of Science and Higher Education Mikhail Kotyukov spoke about the importance of joint scientific, academic and youth projects. “We are focusing attention on implementing programmes of vocational education, practical training, and academic and professor exchanges,” he said. The minister noted that over 13,000 Belarusian students study at Russian universities, including 3,000 at their affiliates in Belarus.

Samara Region Governor Dmitry Azarov spoke about the region’s active cooperation with Belarusian partners. Belarus supplies the Samara Region with agricultural equipment, buses and trolley buses, to name a few. “In turn, every fifth vehicle sold in Belarus was made by AVTOVAZ,” the governor said.

First Deputy Chair of the Federation Council Committee on Science, Education and Culture Liliya Gumerova, Rector of the Vitebsk State Medical University Anatoly Shchastny and General Director of the Russian State Library Vadim Duda also spoke at the meeting.

A number of cooperation agreements and other documents were signed at the plenary session. These included agreements on trade, economic, scientific, technical and socio-cultural cooperation between the Government of Ingushetia and the Government of Belarus, between the Government of the Saratov Region and the Government of Belarus, and between the Administration of the Smolensk Region and the Government of Belarus.

Other signed documents included an agreement on scientific and technical cooperation between the Russian Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, the declaration on the activities of the association of universities of Russia and Belarus, the agreement on scientific and technical cooperation between the non-profit International Competence Centre for Mining-Engineering Education under the aegis of UNESCO, the St Petersburg Mining University and BELAZ, the managing company of the BELAZ Holding.

In addition, the International Competence Centre for Mining-Engineering Education under the aegis of UNESCO signed a cooperation agreement with the Belarusian National Technical University.