The next Forum of Regions of Belarus and Russia will take place in Russia’s Smolensk Oblast in 2028, Chairwoman of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of Russia Valentina Matviyenko said following the plenary session of the 13th Forum of Regions of Belarus and Russia, BelTA has learned.
“In the next meeting, we will gather in the same broad format, but already in Russia,” Valentina Matviyenko said.
According to her, there had been strong competition among the regions that wanted to invite their Belarusian colleagues. However, as of today, a decision has been made to hold the next forum in Smolensk Oblast. That had been long proposed by the governor of Smolensk Oblast.
Valentina Matviyenko explained that the decision to hold the next forum in 2028 is due to the large number of signed documents that require time for practical implementation. “But between the forums, the forum’s organizing committee, as well as the interregional cooperation commission of the Federation Council and the Council of the Republic, will continue their work,” the speaker added.
She noted that meetings with Chairwoman of the Council of the Republic Natalya Kochanova will take place annually. “Every year we will meet, review, and summarize how the adopted decisions are being implemented,” Valentina Matviyenko said.