The message reads, in part:
“It is symbolic that your meeting this year, the year of the 70th anniversary of the Great Victory, is taking place near Podolsk, which played an important part in the heroic defence of Moscow against the Nazi invaders and is today one of Moscow Region’s main industrial centres, with twin city ties with many towns abroad.
Dozens of Russian and Belarusian towns have knitted partnership ties. Their close and fruitful cooperation in a wide range of areas contributes to our countries’ social and economic development and plays an important part in strengthening the [Russia-Belarus] Union State and the Eurasian Economic Union.
You are set to discuss topical matters concerning development and implementation of our joint economic, investment and infrastructure projects, cooperation programmes in culture, healthcare and sports, and organisation of effective exchange of experience between municipal authorities, research centres and educational establishments, public organisations and business associations.
I am sure that this meeting will further strengthen the mutually advantageous ties between Russian and Belarusian cities for the benefit of both fraternal nations. Let me take this opportunity to congratulate sincerely the representatives of Belarusian public organisation Twin Cities, which recently marked its 20th anniversary.”