Inauguration of the BRICS and International Cities Forum 

The official inauguration of the BRICS+ International Cities Forum was held at Kazan City Hall on June 21, 2024. The event was attended by representatives of local authorities from over 40 cities, and presidents of municipal associations from more than 10 countries. The forum marked the founding of the BRICS+ Cities and Municipalities Association. The opening ceremony was attended by various dignitaries which included Mr. Rustam Minnikhanov, Head of Tatarstan, Mr. Ilsur Metshin, Mayor of Kazan, as well as Mayors of other cities and Presidents of local governments national association. 

Mr. Rustam Minnikhanov delivered a welcoming speech on behalf of Russian President H.E. Vladimir Putin: “I extend a warm welcome to the participants of the BRICS Plus International City Forum, gathered in the hospitable city of Kazan… I am convinced that the Forum will be a starting point for promising new initiatives, and that the recommendations and proposals developed during the Forum will serve to deepen the multi-faceted initiatives of relations for the benefit of our peoples“. The Head of Tatarstan added that the cooperation of local authorities contributes to the exchange of experience and the sustainable development of countries. As one of the major industrialized and innovative regions, Tatarstan plays an active role in implementing Russia’s policy of establishing a just, multipolar world order. 

The Mayor of Kazan, Mr. Ilsur Metshin, expressed his gratitude for the support of Kazan’s initiative to create an Association of Cities and Municipalities from BRICS+ countries. “I am sure that today’s momentous meeting will go down in the history of the global municipal movement. I sincerely believe that together, municipal leaders are capable of achieving a great deal for the people who put their trust in them, as well as strengthening trust between countries“. 

In addition to representatives from 10 BRICS countries, delegations from Turkey, Chile, Indonesia, Mexico, Argentina, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and UCLG Africa also joined the meeting in Kazan. 

Founding meeting of the Association of BRICS+ Cities and Municipalities 

The South African Local Government Association (SALGA) President Mr. Stofile Bheke was among the first to support the creation of the Association of Cities and Municipalities of BRICS+ countries, and he declared that within the framework of the BRICS+ association, members must take advantage of an important moment to adapt, to work well in a fast-moving environment, and to develop inter-communality and international cooperation.  

In his speech, the mayor of Ankara, Mr. Mansur Yavas, expressed the view that there were many conflicts in the modern world, and polarization between some countries was increasing. In this respect, he considered it important to create an association of local authorities to solve problems and share experiences to help build more resilient cities in the face of these challenges. 

UCLG Africa, represented by its Deputy Secretary General, Mr. Morris Mbolela,  confirmed UCLG Africa’s commitment to work closely with the Association in a concerted effort to amplify the voice of local government, believing that the Association of BRICS+ Cities and Municipalities will also answer to one of UCLG Africa’s Goals of ensuring that Local African Governments become credible players and partners in defining, implementing, monitoring and evaluating the impact of public policies at the national, regional and international levels. 

Declarations session 

During the adoption of the Association’s declarations, the Secretary General of the Indian Institute of Local Authorities expressed his objection and asked for a few days to consult and present the declaration to the other members of the institute. This view was supported by the Mayor of Ankara, who indicated that he needed his government’s authorization before giving his approval, as Turkey is not one of the BRICS countries. After a lengthy discussion, the declaration was adopted by consensus, and the mayor of Kazan explained that any changes or modifications requested could be sent in writing to the members, for consideration at the next BRICS cities forum, to be held next year in Brazil. 

The Declaration read in part as follows:  

  1. We acknowledge that our goal is to promote the sustainable development of our cities and municipalities, ensuring the well-being and prosperity of our residents. 
  2. We are committed to enhancing socio-economic cooperation, sharing experiences and transferring best practices in urban management. 
  3. We reaffirm our intention to build partnerships among our countries’ cities and municipalities based on mutual respect, trust and understanding. 
  4. We pledge to collaborate on addressing common challenges, including environmental sustainability, cultural exchange, infrastructural development, social protection and exchange best practices.
  5. We invite all cities, municipalities and associations of local authorities of our countries to join our Association and participate in joint projects and initiatives aimed at improving our citizens’ quality of life and fostering a conducive environment for the development of cities and municipalities.
  6. We are confident that through our collective efforts, we can achieve significant success and substantially contribute to our countries’ development and the strengthening of friendly relations between our peoples. 

In conclusion, the mayor of Kazan announced that the association will have two regional offices, one in the United Arab Emirates and the other in the city of Kazan, and taking into account the remarks made by participants at the meeting, he assured that representatives of national associations will be among the executive members of the Association of BRICS+ Cities and Municipalities, to guarantee the presence of all levels of local government, and that these members will be divided between large and small cities. 

The second day was dedicated to tours of places of interest in the city of Kazan including the historical island-town of Sviyazhsk.