Belo Horizonte, one of Brazil's major cities, has taken action to strengthen its diplomatic and economic ties with Russia. The city administration has begun talks to find a sister city in Russia with similar characteristics.
At the meeting between Russia's Consul General in Rio de Janeiro, Feodosi Vladyşevski, and Belo Horizonte municipal officials, the development of relations between the two countries was discussed. The municipal administration stated that it is ready to sign a sister city agreement with a Russian city that is compatible in terms of geography, socioeconomics, and demographics.
Belo Horizonte's Municipal Secretary of Institutional Relations, Chen, said at the meeting: "Belo Horizonte is constantly seeking to establish dialogue and strategic partnerships to expand its international presence. Maintaining open channels of cooperation with different countries increases our capacity to attract investment and create new opportunities."
The meeting discussed how to deepen cooperation in areas such as investment, trade, culture, and mutual exchange programs. Particular emphasis was placed on establishing new connections between Russian and Brazilian companies and exploring investment opportunities.
Cultural cooperation was also an important part of the agenda. The parties addressed issues such as joint cultural events, the participation of Russian artists in Belo Horizonte festivals, film screenings, and literary projects. The possibility of reviving the Russian cultural festival PO RUSSKI, which was held in the city in 2018, was also considered.
In addition to Municipal Secretary Chen, the meeting was attended by Russia's Honorary Consul in Belo Horizonte, Carolina Bernardes, and the Protocol Director of the Russian Consulate General in Rio de Janeiro, Vera Ananyeva.
