The Federation Council Speaker delivered a speech at a plenary session of the 13th Forum of the Regions of Belarus and Russia. The presidents of both countries addressed video messages to the Forum’s guests and participants.
Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matvienko and Chair of the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus Natalia Kochanova addressed the plenary session of the 13th Forum of the Regions of Belarus and Russia themed as Region-to-Region Economic Cooperation as the Foundation of Belarus’ and Russia’s Sustainable Development.
President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin and President of the Republic of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko addressed video messages to the Forum’s guests and participants.
Vladimir Putin emphasised the importance of Russia and Belarus preserving and strengthening fraternal traditions of friendship and mutual assistance, as well as reinforcing the historical cultural and spiritual bonds.
“Region-to-region cooperation is a powerful force driving Russia-Belarus partnership and construction of the Union State. It represents a solid foundation underlying bilateral cooperation across a wide range of areas, including politics and security, social and humanitarian spheres, and, of course, the economy,” Vladimir Putin said.
According to Alexander Lukashenko, the regions provide the material foundation that makes the Union State viable and resilient in the face of external challenges.
“Belarus and Russia are allied in spirit. We are united by economic ties but also by shared culture, spiritual and moral values, historical memory, and respect for the heroic deeds of the generation of victors. We are building a future for the peoples of Belarus and Russia,” the Belarusian leader said in his video address.
Valentina Matvienko said 2026 marks the 30th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty on the Formation of the Community of Russia and Belarus.
“That treaty has effectively given a start to our Union. Over the past three decades, we have created one of Eurasia’s most successful integration entities. Russia-Belarus relations are exceptionally stable and rely on mutual trust. They remain strong regardless of external circumstances and are steeped in equality, mutual benefit, and mutual respect,” Valentina Matvienko pointed out.
She noted that proper conditions for pursuing a sound macroeconomic policy across a broad range of sectors have been created throughout the Union State. “We focus on steady development of the manufacturing industry, transport, and the high-tech sector, as well as the agricultural and food security, and deep cooperation. Our efforts have led to the annual growth of mutual trade and investment.”
According to Valentina Matvienko, national currencies account for over 90 percent of payments between Russia and Belarus which shields bilateral trade and investment from externalities. Industrial cooperation is a top priority. Major advances have been made towards ensuring equal treatment for industrial products manufactured in Russia and Belarus. A strategic document on joint action in this area has been signed. Work on the Russian-Belarusian Investment Cluster project is under way. Both countries are consistently advancing the digital agenda. The Union State Committee for Standardisation and Quality, which is now operational, will be the principal body in charge of protecting the common market from unsafe products and eliminating trade barriers. Technology projects are making wide strides as well.
“Much of what had been achieved would have been impossible without the input from the regions,” Valentina Matvienko said, adding that putting in place an extensive network of direct and robust interregional ties was the Forum’s greatest achievement over the years.
The Federation Council Speaker also highlighted the importance of exchanging best practices at the regional and municipal levels. “This concerns not only technologies but also approaches to governance, regulatory frameworks, and workforce training. Many solutions have a proven track record of success. The parliamentarians need to make sure these practices are scaled up and adapted more widely,” Valentina Matvienko said.
Discussing the economic development prospects, the Federation Council Speaker highlighted cooperation in the humanitarian, cultural, and educational spheres. “Youth policy has always been a priority in our countries, because young people are the ones in charge of the Union State’s future. We must create proper environment for the young people to fulfil their potential while fostering them as responsible citizens and patriots,” she stressed.
Relatedly, Valentina Matvienko spoke about the formats, such as the Code of the Unconquered patriotic expedition and Memory Train cultural and educational project, which promote youth contacts. This year marks the fifth anniversary of the Memory Train project, which now brings together senior school students not only from the post-Soviet countries but also from the WWII Allied Powers.
The Federation Council Speaker offered her best wishes to the legislators on the occasion of their professional holiday, the International Day of Parliamentarism, observed annually on June 30.
Valentina Matvienko presented Natalia Kochanova with the Federation Council’s Badge of Honour For Services in Advancing Parliamentarism.
Chair of the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus Natalia Kochanova noted that the Forum of the Regions had become a major fixture in bilateral events.
For many years now, the Forum has remained one of the most popular and productive platforms for Union integration-related dialogue, Natalia Kochanova said adding that representatives from all regions of the Republic of Belarus and the city of Minsk, as well as more than 70 constituent entities of the Russian Federation, took part in the Forum. In total, the event brought together more than 1,000 participants, including parliamentarians, heads of ministries and committees, and public administration organisations, as well as leading Belarusian and Russian enterprises, representatives of academia, education, culture, the media, experts, and young people from both countries.
According to Natalia Kochanova, the theme of this year’s Forum reflects the fact that the economy is the foundation of integration and sustainable development of the Union State noting that, in accordance with the Forum’s programme, ten sector-specific sessions covering various areas of bilateral cooperation were held the day before, along with the inaugural meeting of the Union State Committee for Standardisation and Quality, and an expert session titled “The Union State: A Territory of Development” which was spearheaded by the Belarusian Institute for Strategic Research. As is customary, senior officials from the Belarusian local authorities met with representatives of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation.
According to Natalia Kochanova, all of the above events were conducted in an atmosphere of trust, openness, and constructive dialogue, which is an important prerequisite for a comprehensive discussion of bilateral issues.
Addressing the Forum’s plenary session, Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk noted that over the past 30 years of Union building, Russia and Belarus have established a common socioeconomic, scientific and educational, as well as humanitarian, information, and defence space, and will continue strengthening the technological sovereignty.
First Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Belarus Nikolai Snopkov underscored that in recent years balanced and mutually beneficial Russia-Belarus trade and economic cooperation had produced tangible and practical results, particularly through the expansion of industrial and investment cooperation.
Chair of the Minsk Municipal Executive Committee Vladimir Kukharev delivered a presentation titled “The Economic and Humanitarian Potential of Interregional Cooperation: Minsk and the Russian Regions in Integration Processes.”
Moscow Region Governor Andrei Vorobyov presented joint projects between the region and the Republic of Belarus.
Chair of the Minsk Regional Executive Committee Alexei Kushnarenko spoke about the experience and prospects of interregional cooperation between the Minsk Region and the Russian Federation.
Omsk Region Governor Vitaly Khotsenko outlined new opportunities for cooperation between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus, drawing on the past performance of his region.
Minister of Agriculture and Food of the Republic of Belarus Yury Gorlov highlighted the important role of interregional economic cooperation in deepening integration processes within the Union State.
Rostov Region Governor Yury Slyusar presented the outcomes of cooperation between the Rostov Region and the Republic of Belarus.
Chair of the Standing Commission of the Council of the Republic on the Economy, Budget, and Finance Roman Brodov reported on the outcomes of the sector-specific sessions of the 13th Forum of the Regions of Belarus and Russia.
Following the plenary session, a ceremony to sign bilateral cooperation agreements was held.
The event was attended by co-chairs of the Russian and Belarusian organising committees for the 13th Forum of the Regions of Belarus and Russia namely, Deputy Federation Council Speaker Yury Vorobyov and Deputy Chair of the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus Igor Brilevich, as well as representatives of the state authorities of Russia and Belarus.
The next Forum will be held in the Smolensk Region in 2028.