Vitebsk and the Belyayarsky District of Russia have signed an agreement on cooperation and the establishment of sister city relations

As part of the visit, an agreement was signed to establish sister city relations between the municipality of Beloyarsky District of the Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Okrug (HMAO) — Yugra of the Russian Federation and Vitebsk. An agreement on cooperation was also signed between the Vitebsk Regional Union of Employers and the Khanty-Mansiysk Regional Branch of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs and the Association of Employers of the Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Okrug — Yugra.

The meeting was attended by the Honorary Consul General of the Republic of Belarus in the Russian Federation in Tyumen, Vladimir Shuglya, Archbishop Dmitry of Vitebsk and Orsha, Bishop Fotiy of Yugorsk and Nyagan, employees of the administration of Beloyarsky District, and representatives of the business circles of Beryozovsky and Oktyabrsky districts of HMAO — Yugra.

There is close cooperation between Vitebsk and Beloyarsky. Even before the signing of the agreement, our builders had constructed 5 churches and more than 100 landmark facilities in Beloyarsky over the past 15 years, based on projects developed by Belarusian architects. Over the past period of the current year, goods from the regional center worth more than 10 million Russian rubles have entered the trade network of Beloyarsky District.

During a visit to the stores, the delegation saw products from our enterprises: OJSC "Vitebskhlebprom", "Vitebsk Distillery "Pridvinye", KUP "Confectionery Factory "Vitba", and others. Currently, these enterprises have long-term contracts with the trade networks of Beloyarsky District.

Currently, Russian partners are working on including Belarus in the "Tserber" information system to obtain permission for the supply of fish products to the republic. The tourist company "Ilva" won a tender for organizing recreation and health improvement for children aged 6 to 17 years: 20 people visited in August for health improvement

at the "Izumrudny" camp in the Gluboksky district. From early July to the end of August, a construction team from Vitebsk worked at the construction sites of "Novaya Stroitelnaya Kompaniya" LLC. In June-July, the joint project "Photo Release" (graffiti) was implemented. HoodGraff group artists, Vitebsk residents Yan Kuzmin and Gleb Kashtanov, painted portraits of Valentina Tereshkova, film characters from comedies, paintings with views of Beloyarsk and Vitebsk, and cartoon characters in Beloyarsk.

Valentin Nikolaevich shared his impressions of the trip with our correspondent.

The Belarusian delegation arrived in Beloyarsk on the eve of the Beloyarsk District Day celebration. After signing the agreement, the Vitebsk residents were invited to visit the Kazymsky gas transmission enterprise and an open-air museum in the village of Kazym. Reindeer herders live here and treated our delegation to a national dish – stroganina. Then, the guests attended the opening of the "Oasis-Plaza" shopping and entertainment complex. It houses a four-hall cinema. The appearance of such a center in a town of 20,000 people is a significant event.

The delegation received a proposal to organize an exhibition-sale of products from Vitebsk manufacturers on the complex's premises.

Then, the opening of the picturesque Vitebskaya Street, which is practically the central street, took place. On the same day, a presentation of the "Loving Hearts" sculptural composition was held there. The head of the region congratulated the oldest married couple, and then the newlyweds who were tying the knot that day.

During the festive concert program, a ceremony of congratulating and awarding honorary citizens and distinguished workers of the Beloyarsk district was held.

A meeting with representatives of the district's business circles took place, during which opportunities for expanding cooperation were discussed, and the main measures for further interaction were defined to strengthen and develop trade, economic, and socio-cultural ties.

The next day, a friendly boxing match was held between the teams of Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug – Yugra and Vitebsk. The guests conceded to the hosts by a slight margin. Then, a concert of national ensembles "V

"Round of Friendship", children's bicycle races and a theatrical performance were also organized. The festive program, which included contests and various competitions, lasted until the evening, when a festive fireworks display took place.

Valentin Tsvetkov noted several other situations that demonstrated the truly fraternal feelings of Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Okrug – Yugra towards Belarusians: when the news came that our team carried the Russian flag at the Paralympic Games in Rio, the hall applauded standing. In the same way, they listened standing to the song "White Stork Flies" by the Belarusian band "Pesniary".

Svetlana SHIROKOVA, "Vitbichi".