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President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Ms Matviyenko. Ms Kochanova, friends,

I am delighted to welcome the participants and organisers of the regular 12th Forum of Russian and Belarusian Regions.

Meetings between representatives of our two countries’ regions have become a truly good tradition. This time, over 800 delegates from 79 Russia’s constituent entities and all of Belarus’ regions have gathered to take part in the forum.

I would like to thank you all for your tangible contribution to further strengthening the strategic partnership between Russia and Belarus, to our Union State, and to the neighbourly, truly friendly, and brotherly ties between Russians and Belarusians. It is notable that nearly all constituent entities of the Russian Federation and Belarusian regions are involved in the implementation of our numerous mutually beneficial joint projects.

Russia as the main economic partner of Belarus accounts for about 60 percent of the republic’s foreign trade. Last year, our trade reached a new all-time high figure, rising above $50 billion. Russia firmly holds the first place in accumulated investment in the Belarusian economy with over $5 billion.

I know that following this meeting you plan to sign about a hundred commercial contracts worth 20 billion rubles in total. Their implementation will certainly contribute to even closer integration between our countries.

The current forum is devoted to youth support. You will hold in-depth discussions on ways to develop the talents and the professional, intellectual and creative potential of our young people, and help them realise themselves, demonstrate their abilities and work for the benefit of the Motherland. Of course, we should also consider the methods of raising our young people in accordance with our solid spiritual and moral guidelines, namely, traditional family values, care for your parents, love of your children, patriotism and service to the Fatherland.

The Union State has adopted and is actively implementing a roadmap on youth policy until 2027. It includes a list of projects and events in the spheres of science, education, culture, art, employment, advanced training, and volunteer activities.

In addition, we continue drafting a Youth Policy Implementation Strategy for the medium term. It will be aimed at establishing an integrated system of education and harmonious development in the Union State and the creation of new social, educational and economic opportunities for young people and their comprehensive engagement in integration projects.

On a special note, I would like to praise the Union State’s Parliamentary Assembly for its major contribution to promoting friendly youth ties between Russia and Belarus by regularly holding meetings of the Youth Chamber. The Parliamentary Assembly oversees the annual Youth for the Union State festivals which offer a rich creative and educational programme.

The first meeting of the Union State’s student teams took place in April in Perm, resulting in the agreement to enable Russian and Belarusian students to take part in major infrastructure and manufacturing projects. Several regions in both countries, including Tatarstan and Russia’s Far East, the Minsk and Gomel regions are currently carrying out these projects.

In 2025, a local university in Polotsk, Belarus, launched a summer IT and robotics school. This joint youth initiative by Russia and Belarus is supported by the St Petersburg State University of Aerospace Instrumentation. Minsk hosted conferences for young managers and diplomats – these events attracted large groups from Russia. On the other side of the border, there was a youth trade union forum in Rzhev, the Tver Region, and our friends from Belarus proactively contributed to this event.

Universities have generated positive momentum in expanding their ties. Students from Belarus have been studying not only in Moscow and St Petersburg, but also in many other cities, including Veliky Novgorod, Smolensk, Belgorod, Togliatti, and Bryansk. About 13,000 students from Belarus are enrolled in Russian higher education institutions.

The Union State awards a special prize to celebrate the achievements of talented young people in science, technology and social studies. Students and young researchers hold congresses, workshops and contests, helping advance research, create new technology partnerships and forge stronger ties between the academic communities of the two countries.

Participants in this forum,

This year, Russia and Belarus are holding multiple events to mark 80 years of the Great Victory. It is essential that the younger generation knows the truth about the immortal feats of their fathers, grandfathers and great grandfathers.

In March, Minsk served as a venue for a Patriotic Youth Forum, which resulted in several Russian universities signing partnership agreements with the Belarusian State University to promote patriotic education and work with young people on this topic.

The Memory Train initiative is taking place as we speak – it serves as a good example of efforts to engage regions in our joint undertakings. Young men and women taking part in this campaign come from many former Soviet republics. They visit cities of military glory in Russia and Belarus and discover their history.

In conclusion, I would like to once again wish the forum’s organisers and participants every success. I am certain that your debates and, importantly, your actual efforts will help further strengthen Russia-Belarus ties in the interests of our two brotherly nations.

Thank you for your attention.