The Days of St.Petersburg, timed to the bicentenary of the formation of Finnish independent state, took place in Helsinki on April 14 through 17. The St.Petersburg delegation was led by Alexander Vakhmistrov, Deputy Governor.
The Days of St.Petersburg were held in Helsinki on April 14 through 17, 2009.
The Days of St.Petersburg, timed to the bicentenary of the formation of Finnish independent state, took place in Helsinki on April 14 through 17. The St.Petersburg delegation was led by Alexander Vakhmistrov, Deputy Governor.
The program of the Days included official, business, and cultural events.
The central event of the business program of the Days was the international conference «Saint-Petersburg and Helsinki, within the context of Russo-Finnish cooperation: History, Politics, Economy», held at the Congress Palace «Finland» on April 15. The conference was attended by Alexander Vakhmistrov, St.Petersburg Vice-Governor, and Jussi Pajunen, Mayor of Helsinki, as well as the representatives of governments, organizations, and companies of both cities. During the conference, Dr Matti Klinge, Professor of the University of Helsinki, gave a report on the historical roots of cooperation between St.Petersburg and Helsinki.
Within the confines of international conference, five round tables were held concerning the development of regional cooperation between the two cities.
The round table «Saint-Petersburg–Finland: 200 Years Together» was devoted to the history of the relationship of the cities during the recent 200 years.At the round table «The Investment Attractiveness of St.Petersburg», the most complete and precise information was offered to potential investors, on opportunities for business development in St.Petersburg.
The round table «Ethnic Diversity and Tolerance: Comparing the Problems and Solutions in Helsinki and St.Petersburg» became the ground for sharing experience in the area of studying the socio-cultural adaptation of migrants and forming the culture of inter-ethnic interaction in the society.
Helsinki Port introduced the concept of developing the transport and logistics complex in Saint-Petersburg. The presentation highlighted the major investment projects in the area of transportation: Pulkovo airport, the Grand Port of St.Petersburg, and water passenger transport system.
On the same day, a round table was held at the Helsinki Water Utilities Department, devoted to the 20th anniversary of establishing the cooperation between said departments of St.Petersburg and Helsinki. From the Finnish side, it was attended by Jussi Pajunen, Mayor of Helsinki, and the representatives from the Department for External Relations. The main topics of the discussion were: the improvement of wastewater treatment plants for 20 years, the importance of South-West purification plants to reduce the biological load on the Baltic Sea. A project of Northern sewage conduit was presented, and the prospects of cooperation with John Nurminen Foundation for Environment Protection were discussed with regards of this project.
The following cultural events of the Days prove to be the great occasions indeed: Easter Concert of Spiritual Music, held in the Cathedral at Senate Square on April 14, a gala concert, held at the Knights' Hall on April 15 and a concert of Russian spiritual music at Holy Trinity Church of the Finnish Orthodox Church.
Within the Days, the residents and guests of the Finnish capital had the opportunity to visit the following exhibitions:
• Children's interactive exhibition «A Chest from the Sheremetev's Attic» (Finno-Russian School of Helsinki);
• Photo exhibition «Churches of St.Petersburg» (Cultural Center «Blagovest»);
• A joint exhibition of artists of St.Petersburg and the Union of Artists EUMAN (Cultural Center «Cable Factory»);
• The exhibition «St.Petersburg and Finnish Science: Contacts and Momentums» (Russian Center for Science and Culture).
The exhibition «St.Petersburg and Finnish Science: Contacts and Momentums» so much pleased the guests and residents of Helsinki that the Finnish side suggested to extend its operation time from 25 June to 17 August and deploy the exhibition in the Library of Helsinki.
During the Days, particular attention was paid for cooperation between the two cities to strengthen the values of tolerance and to prevent the manifestations of xenophobia, as well as cooperation with the compatriots living in Finland. A special program of events was elaborated, in accordance with which the opening ceremony of the exhibition «St.Petersburg the Multinational: From Past to Future» took place at the Congress Palace «Finland» on April 15. The aim of the exhibition was an attempt to reflect, by means of photography, the fact that St.Petersburg has been a multi-ethnic and poly-confessional city ever since its founding.
The Days of St.Petersburg in Helsinki became a new step in the progress of regional cooperation of these cities. The participants from both sides were much enthusing about the events within the Days program, which indicated a further deepening of the successful relationship of St.Petersburg and Helsinki.
Source: Committee for External Relations of St.Petersburg