Foreign
GERMAN Foreign Minister, Heiko Maas, and his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, on Monday recommitted their countries to closer cultural cooperation at the opening of an annual conference held online due to the coronavirus pandemic.
In a welcome speech read out online to mark the start of the 23rd Potsdam Meeting, a German-Russian discussion forum, Maas said he hoped the pandemic would help the two countries pursue a positive agenda.
“We should not draw back from our joint responsibility at this point.
“This year’s meeting will focus on the effects of the pandemic on foreign and security policy.
“The coronavirus pandemic will, in the immediate future, be one of the most important factors in developing joint approaches in foreign policy in the global economy to boost cooperation between countries,’’ Lavrov said.
He added that Germany and Russia would focus on the leading role of their countries in a rapidly changing world.
The Potsdam Meetings, set up by the German-Russian Forum in 1999, run parallel to the Petersburg Dialogue, established in 2001.
Report says the forums aim to promote understanding between German and Russian civil societies. (dpa/NAN)
– May 25, 2020 @ 15:12 GMT |
Tags: Foreign ministers recommit to German-Russian cultural cooperation
