Dialogue of Cities: at the World Public Assembly, partnership for a peaceful future was discussed
The panel discussion "Partnership of Cities for a Peaceful and Happy Future" took place on 18 September 2026 at the World Trade Center. The event became part of the Second World Public Assembly "New World: Values That Unite", taking place in Moscow from 18 to 19 September 2026.
At the center of the conversation was the role of sister cities and municipal communities in maintaining direct international ties. Participants discussed the development of cooperation in the fields of culture, education, youth exchanges, tourism and humanitarian projects, as well as the possibilities of public and people's diplomacy in the context of a complex international situation. Special attention was paid to maintaining direct contacts between people and cities.
— Partnership of cities and the development of their relations are today more relevant than ever. The world is going through a very difficult period — a period of rupture. But it is precisely the preservation and support of public contacts that will make it possible not to lose the traditions of communication and cooperation of millions of ordinary people, noted Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Crimea — Permanent Representative of the Republic of Crimea under the President of the Russian Federation Georgy Muradov.
Another central topic of the discussion was culture as one of the most resilient instruments of international communication. According to the participants, cultural ties, sister-city projects and direct interaction between public organizations make it possible to preserve relations between countries and peoples even when other channels of communication are limited.
— Our unchanging tradition in all international projects — is to rely on culture. The sister cities movement remains the foundation of civic interaction. Even in today's difficult conditions, dialogue continues: in some places more actively, in others more quietly. But people's diplomacy is alive and continues to serve as a reliable foundation for international communication, noted Chairwoman of the Belarusian Society of Friendship and Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries Nina Ivanova.
The moderator of the discussion was:
Georgy Muradov — Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Crimea — Permanent Representative of the Republic of Crimea to the President of the Russian Federation, member of the Supreme Consultative Council of the World Peoples Assembly, member of the Board of the International Association "Twin Cities".
The participants also included:
Sergey Kandybovich — member of the Presidium of the Council under the President of the Russian Federation for Interethnic Relations, Chairman of the Federal National-Cultural Autonomy of Belarusians of Russia, member of the Supreme Consultative Council of the World Peoples Assembly;
Sergey Paramonov — Executive Vice President, Head of the Secretariat of the International Association "Twin Cities";
Nina Ivanova — Chairwoman of the Belarusian Society of Friendship and Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries, Executive Secretary of the Belarusian Public Association "Twin Cities";
Rasikh Sagitov — Secretary General of the Eurasian Regional Section of the World Organization "United Cities and Local Governments";
Haik Babukhanyan — Chairman of the "Union Constitutional Right" party of the "Strong Armenia with Russia — for a New Union" movement, Deputy Chairman of the Coordination Council of the International Association of Friends of Crimea.
Askar Mamatkhanov — Deputy Chairman of the National Movement "Yuksalish";
Mikis Filaniotis — Head of the Cypriot branch of the International Russophile Movement.
Following the discussion, the participants concluded that it is necessary not simply to maintain, but to qualitatively develop direct ties between cities. Filling these relations with concrete content: joint festivals, youth and educational exchanges, humanitarian initiatives and professional contacts — makes it possible to translate public diplomacy from declarations into the plane of real deeds. It is precisely this approach that preserves a living space for dialogue at the level of local communities and ordinary people.
Additional information is on the official website of the World Peoples Assembly and at media@world-assembly.org.