The message reads, in part:
“Germany is one of Russia’s key partners in Europe. Friendly relations between the regions and cities of our countries play a considerable role in strengthening Russian-German dialogue and implementing joint plans and projects.
It is gratifying that we cooperate closely in a wide range of areas, including the social, economic, scientific, technical and humanitarian sectors. We highly value exchanging experiences with our German colleagues on local self-government organisation and coordinating activities of authorities, businesses and civil society. Our long-term aim is to advance important projects at the interregional level within our priority Partnership for Modernisation programme. By strengthening our friendly relations, we are laying a stable base for successfully bringing our two nations closer to the mutual benefit.
We believe that the fruitful exchange of opinions will encourage agreements on new initiatives that we can implement together during the Russian-German Year of Education, Science and Innovation in 2011, and the reciprocal Years of Russia in Germany and Germany in Russia in 2012 and 2013.”