The mayor of the Russian city of Kazan, host of the just-concluded 16th BRICS Summit, says the significant infrastructure improvements made in preparation for the event will leave a lasting legacy for residents and vowed the city will continue to foster close ties with its Chinese sister cities.
Ilsur Metshin, Kazan's mayor, outlined some of the extensive work that went in to prepare the summit in a recent interview with China Global Television Network.
The three-day BRICS summit wrapped up on Thursday after gathering global leaders and officials in Kazan, the capital of Russia's Republic of Tatarstan. Notably the event was the first to be held since the expansion of the BRICS group earlier this year.
The emerging-market cooperative mechanism began with Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, and has now evolved into an influential international cooperation mechanism with an expanded membership. Besides the countries that officially joined the BRICS family on Jan 1, 2024, over 30 countries like Thailand, Malaysia, Türkiye and Azerbaijan have either formally applied for or expressed interest in membership.
In accommodating this expanded format as the host city, Metshin listed some of the major improvements seen in Kazan, and stressed these have been designed not only to cater for the summit but will also deliver lasting benefits to its residents.
"We have built a record number of parks and squares this year. We have rebuilt quite a lot of structures, and we have done some work on transport infrastructure, including a railway station. Our airport's throughput and capacity have been expanded and can now receive all types of aircraft at the same time. All these upgrades will remain after the BRICS Summit and will serve our residents and future visitors," said the mayor.
Kazan also enjoys strong ties with 10 Chinese cities, including Guangzhou and Shenzhen in southern China, Xi'an and Chengdu in the west, Qingdao in the east, as well as Harbin and Qiqihar in the north.
While acknowledging the ongoing exchanges and cooperation between these sister cities, Metshin also emphasized the importance of China-Russia relations as a key factor in promoting global peace.
"We have 10 sister cities with the People's Republic of China, so we are connected by real brotherly bonds. We are very active with those cities. We work together, we cooperate, and we constantly exchange delegations. China is our reliable, proven, true friend and partner. We believe that the Russia-China friendship is the future and the guarantee of peace throughout the world," he said.
Kazan mayor highlights how infrastructure upgrades made for BRICS summit will leave lasting legacy
