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.