Project of international inter-municipal cooperation between the BRICS countries presented in the Presidential Library

The conference focused on international cooperation between official representatives of Kupchino Municipality of St. Petersburg and Emfuleni Municipality, the Republic of South Africa, was held in the Presidential Library in Senate Square.

Mikhail Cherepanov, Head of Kupchino Municipality, presented a project of international inter-municipal cooperation between the BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa).

The mission of this project is to strengthen and promote cooperation between municipalities of the BRICS countries; to educate the youth in line with strategic interests and goals of five BRICS countries; to strengthen economic positions in sectors of humanitarian and political cooperation, digitalization, trade and business, employment, cooperation in the field of healthcare, education, power industry, security, and defence relations, and to develop manufacturing industry.

“This year as part of the project it was decided to pay particular attention to the development of sports industry, and such a sport as rugby,” Head of Kupchino Municipality stressed.

In the spotlight of the conference was a first large-scale event as part of the project - the international rugby sevens tournament among youth amateur teams from the BRICS countries' municipalities. This year the tournament will take place in St. Petersburg; players aged between 18 and 20 will participate in it. Teams from the North-West District will take part in the qualification stage. The winner will compete with teams of the municipalities of the Republic of South Africa, Brazil, China and India. Winners of two stages will reach the final.

Organizers are planning to hold the tournament annually. The participation of amateur teams is a chance for major rugby clubs all over the world to see and assess the abilities of young talented players, who, in their turn, will have an opportunity to develop professionally.

A business communication program is an opportunity to exchange experience and enhance international cooperation between municipalities of the BRICS countries. It will include a variety of conferences, sessions and roundtable discussions, which will bring together politicians and business executives from five BRICS countries.

It should be noted that the project of international inter-municipal cooperation between the BRICS countries is supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, and the above-mentioned tournament – by the Russian Rugby Federation.

During the discussion, representatives of the delegation from South Africa told that rugby was one of the most popular sports in the Republic of South Africa. They also noted that the implementation of the project of international inter-municipal cooperation would boost both - the sports industry and the economic relations between municipalities of the BRICS countries.