Vladimir Terentyev: The VI Forum of Regions of Belarus and Russia was held in an atmosphere of mutual respect and interest
The applied nature of the high-level agreements is manifested in the development of cooperation between regions. At the Forum, Vitebsk region also held its comprehensive presentation, which interested the event participants.
The meeting between the Chairperson of the Federation Council, Valentina Matvienko, and the Chairperson of the Council of the Republic, Mikhail Myasnikovich, with the heads of state authorities of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation and the regions of the Republic of Belarus was attended by the Chairman of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee, Nikolai Sherstnev. He was given the floor to speak, and he, in particular, touched upon the topic of creating a flax cluster by the enterprises of the Union State. After all, during the Soviet Union, the flax industry of Belarus and Russia held the first positions in the world. Today, we are yielding leadership to France and Belgium. Nevertheless, there are opportunities for the development of the flax industry, from growing and processing flax, manufacturing raw materials and materials to selling finished products. This includes a scientific base, enterprises for the production of specialized production equipment, many years of experience, and more. If disconnected producers have fewer chances to reach certain heights, then with cooperation, it is realistically possible to make a qualitative leap and return to the leading positions.
At the VI Forum, an agreement was signed between the Administration of the Kursk region and the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee on trade, economic, scientific, technical, and socio-cultural cooperation. Vitebsk region enterprises have secured over 30 contracts with Russian companies worth $46 million. In addition to the consistently in-demand meat and dairy products, clothing, footwear, construction materials, fiberglass, water treatment facilities and equipment, and veterinary drugs are also popular.
At a briefing with the participation of leading regional media, the Chairman of the Vitebsk Regional Council of Deputies, Vladimir Terentyev, noted the atmosphere of mutual respect and interest that permeated the Forum. The head of the region's parliamentary corps spoke about its results through the prism of the regional council's work:
– It is gratifying to note that we have signed two cooperation agreements – with the Legislative Assembly of the Republic of Karelia and the Pskov Regional Assembly of Deputies. A constructive dialogue was held with colleagues from the Smolensk and Novgorod regions, the Perm Territory, and the Kaliningrad region on expanding interrelations. Speaking about ties with the Smolensk and Pskov regions, it is worth noting that close, active relationships have already been established with them in many areas. Thus, over the past 4 years, out of 45 agreements signed by the Councils of Deputies, 16 are agreements with colleagues from Pskov and 10 from the Smolensk regions. The trade turnover with the Pskov region, a comparatively small region, exceeds the trade turnover with the Leningrad region. Karelia is a new region for Vitebsk residents to explore, with which, however, there are contacts in the economic sphere, particularly in forestry.
Vladimir Terentyev emphasized that the Forum was aimed at strengthening cultural and humanitarian ties. Much can be done through the implementation of youth projects. Therefore, youth organizations were widely represented. For the first time, a joint meeting of rectors of Belarusian and Russian universities was held on issues of organizing the educational process, opportunities for studying in neighboring countries, and student exchanges.
The presentation by the rector of VSMU, **Anatoly Shchastny**, aroused interest. He reported that a pharmaceutical cluster has practically been established between St. Petersburg pharmacists and our university. The interesting developments of scientists and mutual integration are capable of yielding excellent results, so the Doctor of Medical Sciences proposed further deepening this process.
A number of agreements have been reached, the implementation of which by healthcare, education, and cultural institutions, as well as youth public associations, will be mutually beneficial. For example, the National Polotsk Historical and Cultural Museum-Reserve and the State Memorial and Natural Landscape Museum-Reserve of A. S. Pushkin, which have signed an agreement, will mutually enrich each other.
The meeting between the Chairperson of the Federation Council, Valentina Matvienko, and the Chairperson of the Council of the Republic, Mikhail Myasnikovich, with the heads of state authorities of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation and the regions of the Republic of Belarus was attended by the Chairman of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee, Nikolai Sherstnev. He was given the floor to speak, and he, in particular, touched upon the topic of creating a flax cluster by the enterprises of the Union State. After all, during the Soviet Union, the flax industry of Belarus and Russia held the first positions in the world. Today, we are yielding leadership to France and Belgium. Nevertheless, there are opportunities for the development of the flax industry, from growing and processing flax, manufacturing raw materials and materials to selling finished products. This includes a scientific base, enterprises for the production of specialized production equipment, many years of experience, and more. If disconnected producers have fewer chances to reach certain heights, then with cooperation, it is realistically possible to make a qualitative leap and return to the leading positions.
At the VI Forum, an agreement was signed between the Administration of the Kursk region and the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee on trade, economic, scientific, technical, and socio-cultural cooperation. Vitebsk region enterprises have secured over 30 contracts with Russian companies worth $46 million. In addition to the consistently in-demand meat and dairy products, clothing, footwear, construction materials, fiberglass, water treatment facilities and equipment, and veterinary drugs are also popular.
At a briefing with the participation of leading regional media, the Chairman of the Vitebsk Regional Council of Deputies, Vladimir Terentyev, noted the atmosphere of mutual respect and interest that permeated the Forum. The head of the region's parliamentary corps spoke about its results through the prism of the regional council's work:
– It is gratifying to note that we have signed two cooperation agreements – with the Legislative Assembly of the Republic of Karelia and the Pskov Regional Assembly of Deputies. A constructive dialogue was held with colleagues from the Smolensk and Novgorod regions, the Perm Territory, and the Kaliningrad region on expanding interrelations. Speaking about ties with the Smolensk and Pskov regions, it is worth noting that close, active relationships have already been established with them in many areas. Thus, over the past 4 years, out of 45 agreements signed by the Councils of Deputies, 16 are agreements with colleagues from Pskov and 10 from the Smolensk regions. The trade turnover with the Pskov region, a comparatively small region, exceeds the trade turnover with the Leningrad region. Karelia is a new region for Vitebsk residents to explore, with which, however, there are contacts in the economic sphere, particularly in forestry.
Vladimir Terentyev emphasized that the Forum was aimed at strengthening cultural and humanitarian ties. Much can be done through the implementation of youth projects. Therefore, youth organizations were widely represented. For the first time, a joint meeting of rectors of Belarusian and Russian universities was held on issues of organizing the educational process, opportunities for studying in neighboring countries, and student exchanges.
The presentation by the rector of VSMU, **Anatoly Shchastny**, aroused interest. He reported that a pharmaceutical cluster has practically been established between St. Petersburg pharmacists and our university. The interesting developments of scientists and mutual integration are capable of yielding excellent results, so the Doctor of Medical Sciences proposed further deepening this process.
A number of agreements have been reached, the implementation of which by healthcare, education, and cultural institutions, as well as youth public associations, will be mutually beneficial. For example, the National Polotsk Historical and Cultural Museum-Reserve and the State Memorial and Natural Landscape Museum-Reserve of A. S. Pushkin, which have signed an agreement, will mutually enrich each other.
**"Vitichi".**