The 28th Saint Petersburg International Economic Forum has begun in Saint Petersburg, with a delegation from Republika Srpska participating, led by President Milorad Dodik.
Dodik was welcomed at the Saint Petersburg Airport by a member of the government and Chairman of the Committee for Foreign Affairs of Saint Petersburg, Grigoriev Evgeny Dmitrievich.
Participation in the forum is an opportunity to strengthen ties with the Russian Federation as well as with other friendly countries, Dodik said in an interview for TV Saint Petersburg. He added that the forum is a global event and that Republika Srpska is proud to call Russia a friend.
“Orthodoxy is what unites us—Serbs and Russians are proud of their shared history,” Dodik stated. He emphasized that strong ties have been established between Republika Srpska and Russia in the fields of healthcare, education, culture, energy, and the oil industry.
Also part of the Republika Srpska delegation are Ministers Željko Budimir, Denis Šulić, Alen Šeranić, and Deputy Chair of the Council of Ministers Staša Košarac.
Participation in the Saint Petersburg International Economic Forum has been confirmed by 20,000 representatives from 140 countries, said Yuri Ushakov, assistant to the President of Russia. This year’s forum is being held under the theme “Shared Values in the Foundation of Growth in a Multipolar World.”
In the coming days, Dodik and the Republika Srpska delegation will hold a series of bilateral meetings with officials from Russia and the Saint Petersburg region on mutual cooperation.
Source: RTRS
