Astrakhan State University Welcomes Representatives of Caspian Sister Cities

Today, on September 28, ASU held the opening ceremony of the international forum “Prospects of Developing Cooperation between Sister Cities of Caspian States”.

The event was organized by the Federal Agency for the Commonwealth of Independent States Affairs, Compatriots Living Abroad and International Humanitarian Cooperation (Rossotrudichestvo). It is bringing together representatives of municipal entities of the Caspian states, consulates, public authorities, scientific and educational institutions.

The forum ceremony guests were welcomed by Mikhail Bryukhanov, the Deputy Head of Rossotrudichestvo. Having characterized the modern international relations as unstable and even “turbulent», he stressed that now this very “peoples’ diplomacy” has a good chance to become a stabilizer and activator of inter-settlement contacts.

Astrakhan State University Rector Konstantin Markelov reminded his colleagues of the conference “Digital Caspian Region”, which took place in May 2019, and about the prospects of university’s participation in the 2020 Scientific Forum in Azerbaijan. All these events, including the today’s one, may be considered as components of the preparation for a large international event — the 2nd Caspian Economic Forum which was announced to be held in Astrakhan in 2021.

The 2-day programme of the forum “Prospects of Developing Cooperation between Sister Cities of Caspian States” includes three specific modules:

• “Economy of International Municipal Cooperation of Caspian States. Digital Development Vector”;
• “Prospects of Developing Tourism Between Sister Cities of the Five Caspian States”;
• “Role of Sister Cities in Forming an Integrated Trade & Logistics Infrastructure of Caspian Region”.