February 25 in Smolny held a meeting of the Acting Chairman of the Committee for external relations of St. Petersburg Sergey Markov with Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Australia to Russia Peter Tesch.
The visit to St. Petersburg and the official meeting with the leadership of the Committee were organized in connection with the completion of the powers of P. Tesh as Ambassador of Australia to Russia and as a sign of constructive cooperation.
The meeting was also attended by Honorary Consul of Australia in St. Petersburg Sebastian Fitzlyon.
Sergey Markov thanked p. Tesh for his constant attention to St. Petersburg and support of joint projects and initiatives. He also noted the long-standing historical and cultural contacts of St. Petersburg and Australia, the memory of which is not forgotten. For example, in November last year, the Committee for external relations of St. Petersburg supported the commemorative events organized by the Australian side dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the end of the First world war.
Reference: The action at the monument "Russian guard of the great war" was attended by Ambassador extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Australia to Russia P. tesh and heads of diplomatic missions of foreign countries accredited in St. Petersburg. On the occasion of the significant date Peter Tesh transferred to the War chamber of Tsarskoye Selo reconstruction of the military uniform of Sergeant of the Australian and new Zealand corps ANZAC during the First world war.
The meeting also discussed the preparation of joint events on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of friendly relations between St. Petersburg and Melbourne. In organizing the anniversary program involved the Committee for external relations of St. Petersburg, institutions and organizations of Saint Petersburg and Melbourne, the Society of friendship "Melbourne – St. Petersburg", the Honorary Consul of Australia in St. Petersburg S. Fitzlyon, the city Council of Melbourne.
It is planned that the Days of Melbourne in St. Petersburg will begin April 16, 2019 with the opening of the main building of the Russian national library photo exhibition dedicated to Melbourne. At the Studio "Lenfilm" there will be a screening of the film "Crime and punishment" the Australian Director A.'keefe. The Museum of F. M. Dostoevsky will present a production in Russian of a new play by Australian writer Judith Armstrong. Meetings with representatives of cultural and educational institutions of St. Petersburg will be organized.
The response events of St. Petersburg in Melbourne are scheduled for September-October 2019.
In addition, in the conversation, Acting Chairman of the Committee for external relations of St. Petersburg Sergey Markov stressed the particular importance of enhancing business cooperation. As an example of successful cooperation in business, he called the work of the Australian company "Orica" at the University of Mines, as well as the supply of tractors "Kirovets" in Australia.
Ambassador extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Australia to Russia P. tesh, in turn, confirmed that bilateral contacts continue to develop. He spoke about the recent presentation at the Australian Embassy in Russia of the translation of the collection of documents "Russian consular service in Australia 1857-1917", published in 2014 in Moscow. The authors of the book-doctor of historical Sciences, Professor of St. Petersburg state marine technical University Alexander Massov and his Australian colleague Marina Pollard, an employee of "Radio 4EB Brisbane". The translation of the book was published by the Australian national University press and demonstrates the continuing interest in the study of joint history.
At the end of the meeting, Peter tesh thanked the Government of St. Petersburg and the Committee for external relations of St. Petersburg for the warm welcome and confirmed his readiness to assist in the implementation of humanitarian and business projects of St. Petersburg-Australia.