US-Russia Sister Cities Plan First Mayors Summit In 20 Years - SCI Chairman Emeritus

Fahad Shabbir (@FahadShabbir) Published November 22, 2018 | 12:54 AM

WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 22nd November, 2018) Russian and US sister cities are planning to conduct the first bilateral Mayors Summit in 20 years, Chairman Emeritus of the US-based Sister Cities International (SCI) Bill Boerum told Sputnik on Wednesday.

"The conference will be held in Russia in late September or early October 2019," Boerum said. "Sister Cities International and the Union of Russian Cities will jointly develop the conference program."

Boerum, who serves as Sister Cities International's country representative for Russia, noted that the last similar conference was organized more two decades ago.

"I think, a major topic for discussion will be how to work together to identify common challenges for cities," Boerum said.

The SCI chairman emeritus pointed out that the specific site for the summit has not been not determined yet, but the Russian side is negotiating with a couple of cities to determine who will host the event.

Boerum acknowledged that recruiting participants from the United States to participate in the event is a "big challenge.

"Usually, Americans do not like their mayors to travel outside their cities. They think mayors are traveling for pleasure, while other countries, including Russia, recognize that their cities should promote international relations," Boerum said.

Boerum also emphasized that Russian and US municipalities may benefit from strengthened bilateral collaboration.

"There are common challenges that US and Russian cities have. By meeting with each other and doing exchanges, they can have a sense of friendship and cooperation, which is possible on a municipal level and not really possible on the Federal level at this time," Boerum said.

Sister Cities International was established in the United States about 60 years ago. The global organization has more established more than 2,000 partnerships between cities in 146 countries. About 60 Russian and 70 US cities have sister relations.