Sister Cities To Continue Work With Russia Regardless Of Outcome Of US Elections - Chair

SAN FRANCISCO (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 16th October, 2018) Sister Cities International will continue its efforts aimed at improving relations with Russia regardless the results of the upcoming midterm elections in the United States, Chairman Emeritus Bill Boerum told Sputnik.

"Our efforts will continue no matter what the outcome is," Boerum said on Monday. "We are trying to do our best, person-to-person, city to city in improving relationships with Russia."

Boerum, who is a Country Representative for Russia at Sister Cities International, is going to visit the country in late October. He also plans to speak at Dialogue on the Volga in Volgograd.

He stressed that the relationships between US and Russian cities have to be enlivened.

"That means that people will be in touch with each other, travel back and forth, have what we call exchanges, including student exchanges," Boerum said.

The chairman emeritus said he has discussed the need to boost people-to-people exchanges with both US and Russian universities. He also noted that there is a great interest in having such exchanges and having better relations with the Americans.

Boerum believes the Russian city of Volgograd will be a good place to hold a conference.

"I am going to be taking up this conversation with Mayor Kosolapov what practical steps we can develop," he noted.

Sister Cities International was established in the United States about 60 years ago. It is a global organization of more than 2,000 partnerships between cities in 146 countries, Boerum added.