🇷🇺 Rossotrudnichestvo Holds Session on Municipal Diplomacy at the Russia–Africa Summit

✅ A panel session entitled “Municipal Diplomacy between Russia and Africa: New Opportunities for Humanitarian Cooperation” was held at Gostiny Dvor on the sidelines of the Russia–Africa Economic and Humanitarian Forum. The session was moderated by Konstantin Kolpakov, Deputy Head of Rossotrudnichestvo.

➡️ Participants discussed ways to promote cooperation between Russian and African cities. According to Konstantin Kolpakov, twinning arrangements should be more than a formal status; they should serve as a practical mechanism for cooperation. He outlined several complementary areas of collaboration: economic ties and the exchange of experience in urban development; humanitarian and youth projects; partnerships in science and professional training; technological solutions; and professional networking.

“The sustainability of city twinning depends on how regularly municipalities and organisations interact, whether joint initiatives emerge, and whether direct contacts are established between residents, educational institutions, cultural venues and business communities,” Konstantin Kolpakov noted.

He also emphasised that moving from shared interests to concrete forms of cooperation is particularly important today. One of Rossotrudnichestvo’s priorities is to expand intermunicipal cooperation with African countries and actively engage Russian municipalities in this work.

📌 The discussion brought together Alyona Arshinova, Chair of the Council of the Autonomous Non-Profit Organisation “Eurasia” (ANO Eurasia); Sergey Cheremin, Head of the Department for External Economic and International Relations of Moscow; Fidinirina Andriatomponera, Mayor of Antsirabe, Republic of Madagascar; Dmitry Vasilyev, Acting Head of the City of Krasnodar; Artyom Kureev, Editor-in-Chief of African Initiative; Galli Monastyryova, Chair of the Association for Economic Cooperation with African Countries; and Denis Profatilov, Acting Deputy Governor of Sevastopol.

🌍 More than 40 thematic sessions featuring around 100 speakers were held as part of the Summit. Delegations from 48 African countries arrived in Moscow, with 22 countries represented at the highest level.