Yekaterinburg bids to host Expo 2025.

Excerpts from the transcript:

Dmitry Medvedev: You have come to Russia due to Yekaterinburg’s bid to host World Expo 2025. Our government pays special attention to his issue. I would like to thank you for examining our bid so carefully. This is not the first time we have submitted a bid. However, there have been changes to Yekaterinburg’s application compared with the last time: the characteristics of the venue have changed, and there are some additional capacities. I hope Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich, who is responsible for this project, ministers and the regional administration have managed to show them all.

We reaffirm our commitment to deliver on all the obligations of the host city according to the rules and guarantee everything fixed in the documents I have signed.

Jai-chul Choi (Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE), via interpreter): The goal of the inspection is to examine the project Russia has presented in Yekaterinburg. The commission held several working meetings with your team, the Deputy Prime Minister and the Industry Minister. The preliminary results are very positive. We will present the information to the committee’s session to be held on 4 May, and then the BIE Executive Committee’s report will be presented to the General Assembly, whose meeting is scheduled for 4 June. The final voting will be held at the General Assembly in November. So far, we are happy to assure you of our political support.

The 2014-2020 Interreg Baltic Sea Region transnational cooperation programme is an instrument for the implementation of joint cross-border projects between regions of the Russian Federation, states of the European Union and Norway that promote balanced socioeconomic development in the Baltic Region. The adopted decision supports Russia’s participation in the programme.

Reference

The document has been submitted by the Ministry of Economic Development.

In accordance with Russian Government Directive No 2322-r of 23 October 2017, the Ministry of Economic Development signed an agreement on behalf of Russia on 25 December 2017 regarding fees to implement the 2014-2020 Interreg Baltic Sea Region Programme of transnational cooperation in Russia; the agreement was concluded by the Government of the Russian Federation, the European Commission and the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany (hereinafter referred to, respectively as “Agreement,” “Programme”). It was signed by the European and German sides in Brussels on 29 and 30 January 2018, respectively.

The 2014-2020 Interreg Baltic Sea Region transnational cooperation programme is an instrument for the implementation of joint cross-border projects between regions of the Russian Federation, states of the European Union and Norway that promote balanced socioeconomic development in the Baltic Region. Implementation of the Programme helps foster ties between regions of Russia and EU countries, support environmental safety, and develop infrastructure.

For the Russian regions that are part of the Northwestern Federal District, this format of interregional cooperation is an effective tool for addressing regional issues, as well as an additional source of funding for regional initiatives.

The total funding of the Programme in 2014-2018 is 349.8 million euros. Russia is contributing 4.5m euros, including 3.06m euros in 2018 and 1.44m euros in 2019. These funds are provided for in the federal budget. 

The message reads, in part:

“I would like to emphasise the importance of further progress in the Russia-Slovakia trade and economic cooperation, and the expansion of cultural and humanitarian ties. I am confident that this meets the long-term national interests of our countries.”

The Prime Minister’s message of greetings to the Premier of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China reads, in part:

“Under your leadership, the State Council has made great strides in China’s economic and social development and it has increased its international standing.

“I would like to particularly note your constant attention to the strengthening of Russian-Chinese relations based on the principles of comprehensive partnership and strategic cooperation. As part of regular meetings between the heads of government of Russia and China, important matters concerning bilateral cooperation are considered and coordinated decisions are taken to implement major joint projects in the field of trade, investment, industry, energy, agriculture as well as in the humanitarian sphere that meet the long-term interests of our countries.”

The Prime Minister’s message to the Federal Chancellor reads, in part:

“I am sure that the development of the mutually beneficial economic and humanitarian ties as well as the implementation of new joint projects fully comply with the long-term interests of Russia and Germany.”