The delegation included 18 people of different professions (teachers, doctors, ministers of the church, marketing specialists, public figures, etc.) from the US, Great Britain and Australia.
Reference: "Friendship Force International" is a non-profit public organization focused on the mutual understanding, cultural education, public diplomacy and charitable activities promotion. The organization has 15,000 active members in more than 60 countries. Every year they participate in more than 300 trips around the world.
During the meeting, Andrei Khlutkov told representatives of the foreign delegation about the activities of the Committee for External Relations of St. Petersburg and overall priorities of the Government of St. Petersburg in international contacts development. He specially noted the work with partner cities and, in particular, with those located on the territory of countries represented by the members of the delegation. Andrei Khlutkov announced the upcoming Melbourne Days in St. Petersburg, dedicated to the 30th anniversary of twinning agreement between two cities, and summed up the memorable events held in the United States (in the cities of Miami and St. Petersburg, Florida) dedicated to the 75th anniversary of complete liberation of Leningrad from the fascist siege.
St. Petersburg potential was also presented as one of the largest venues for high-level international events. In addition, Andrei Khlutkov told the guests about the work of the Committee for External Relations of St. Petersburg in support of compatriots abroad.
In response, the head of the delegation, the regional manager of the head office of the international public organization Friendship Force International in Atlanta, Oyuna Sengeeva, thanked Andrei Khlutkov for the meeting and briefly presented the activities of her organization around the world. A representative of the organization from Australia, inspired by the conversation, made a proposal to assist in contacts with compatriots abroad.
Additionally:
"Friendship Force International" was established by US President Jimmy Carter in 1977. The main slogan of the organization is "Persons, not cities".
Friendship Force clubs can include both small family groups and large communities of 100 people. Activists of Friendship Force clubs help to make it possible to touch their culture through travel, hosting or volunteering.
St. Petersburg Club "Strength in Friendship" (Friendship Force St.Petersburg) was founded in 1991 and is a division of the St. Petersburg Association for International Cooperation.