More than 70 agreements were signed following the results of the BRICS International Municipal Forum in St. Petersburg.
The BRICS 2025 International Municipal Forum has come to an end in St. Petersburg, where more than 70 cooperation agreements were concluded between cities and organizations from 75 countries. The Forum has become one of the largest platforms for the exchange of experience in the field of urban governance and international cooperation. The international partner of the event was the TV BRICS media network.
The forum's program covered the topics of financial and economic cooperation, digital technology development, youth policy and creative industries. The participants emphasized the importance of urban diplomacy and cultural exchange as a tool to strengthen partnership between the BRICS countries and their allies.
During the panel discussion "Russia – China: urban diplomacy in an era of change" it was noted that the volume of bilateral trade between Moscow and Beijing has reached 104 billion US dollars. Representatives of the Chinese delegation stressed their desire to strengthen ties in the fields of innovation, science and high technology.
Moscow Government Minister Sergei Cheryomin announced the signing of a new cooperation program between Moscow and Havana. The Governor of Havana, Janet Hernandez Perez, expressed her intention to make Cuba an active partner of the BRICS and to hold a thematic week in May dedicated to relations with Russia.
A separate section of the forum was dedicated to the creative industries. According to Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council Inna Svyatenko, this sector accounts for more than 3% of global GDP. Russia plans to develop the export of creative areas, including animation, fashion, crafts and digital services.
Representatives of South Africa, Tanzania and Uganda noted that the BRICS format opens up new opportunities for international partnerships in trade, ecology and digitalization.
Volunteer programs have also become part of the agenda. David Okpatuma from Rwanda said that health care volunteers are becoming an important part of the national public health system.
The general partner of the forum was the Moscow Government. The event was supported by the Federation Council, the Russian Foreign Ministry, the Government of St. Petersburg, the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs, the Moscow Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the Roscongress Foundation.
