The meeting "Lines of Cooperation and Development: Latvia – Belarus" was held in Vitebsk

– We have much in common: the Western Dvina – Daugava River, a shared history, and cultural traditions. Vitebsk can no longer be imagined without the traditional Days of Latvia, which take place in November, when the neighboring country celebrates the Day of the Proclamation of the Republic of Latvia. Bonds of close friendship, camaraderie, and mutual understanding exist both at the governmental level and among ordinary people, – said **Vladimir Terentyev, Chairman of the Vitebsk Regional Council of Deputies**. He thanked everyone who has strived to strengthen the relations between the two countries over all these years, in particular, the Embassy and Consulate of Latvia.

As **Martins Virsis, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Latvia to the Republic of Belarus**, noted, if 25 years is a young age for a person, then for the cooperation between two countries, it is already a solid date, a relationship built on a foundation of trust.

– Today, four municipalities have re-signed cooperation agreements because, over the last 10-15 years, the interaction between the two countries has developed so much that it has outgrown the previously agreed framework, – reported **Vladimir Klimov, Consul General of the Republic of Belarus in Daugavpils**.

– Looking around the hall, I see those with whom we have already implemented many projects, and there is much more ahead. If you came to this event, it means that we have not lived these 25 years together in vain, – said **Uģis Skujiņš, Head of the Consulate of the Republic of Latvia in Vitebsk**.

At the same meeting, a presentation of the book "Consulate and Consuls of Latvia in Vitebsk" took place. The authors are Professor Eriks Jekabsons of the University of Latvia and Maxim Korolev, Senior Lecturer at the Department of Social and Humanitarian Sciences of Vitebsk State Medical University, and coordinator of the research project "Latvians and Belarusians: Together Through the Centuries." Maxim Korolev spoke about the stages of work on the publication, thanks to which