The basis of any cooperation between states is cooperation between regions, Minsk Oblast Governor Aleksandr Turchin told the media after a ceremony to sign an agreement on cooperation between Minsk Oblast and Russia's Leningrad Oblast on 26 September, BelTA has learned.

“Interregional cooperation is the basis of any cooperation. When people in the regions start visiting each other, getting to know each other, it contributes to the birth of very good projects. It is very important to choose the right partners for this purpose, and, first of all, administrative units should be similar in some way,” Aleksandr Turchin said.

The Minsk Oblast governor cited an example of the signed cooperation agreement between Nesvizh of Minsk Oblast and Gatchina of Leningrad Oblast. “These are well-known cultural and historical places, which are of paramount importance for both Belarus and Russia. Their cooperation should go exactly in this direction. A significant number of administrative and territorial units of Leningrad Oblast and Minsk Oblast should find their partners, sign agreements and move forward,” Aleksandr Turchin stressed.

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