VIRGINIA BEACH — Russian representatives will gather in Virginia Beach this week for the first United States and Russia Mayor Summit in 26 years.
Sister Cities International, a program started under President Eisenhower, meets annually at a conference. This year from July 12-13, the U.S. and Russia will meet for the mayor summit as an add-on to the international conference.
The last time the U.S. met with Russia through Sister Cities was before the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, according to summit chair Steve Kalishman.
Russian mayors, educators and municipal officials will meet with their American counterparts to exchange ideas on enhancing higher education, cultural exchange and the environment.
Leaders will also discuss improving relations between the U.S. and Russia.
“We want to strengthen our ties,” Kalishman said. “We are looking for ways we can collaborate on culture, education and trade relations and exchanges.”
Following the end of the Cold War, the Sister Cities Program between the U.S. and Russia was ignored, Kalishman said.
“We have a great interest in reviving our Sister City relations with Russia,” Kalishman said. “We lost momentum after the Soviet Union dissolved, but now the interest is being revived.”
The summit will feature several keynote speakers from Russia and the U.S., including mayors and ambassadors.
“It is important for cities to interact and collaborate,” Kalishman said. “We want to have strong communication and collaboration with Russia.”
