«I am glad to welcome participants and organizers of the 12th Forum of the Regions of Russia and Belarus. Meetings of representatives of the regions of the two countries have become a truly good tradition. This time the forum features more than 800 delegates from 79 constituent entities of the Russian Federation and all Belarusian regions. I would like to thank all of you for your tangible contribution to the further strengthening of the Russian-Belarusian strategic partnership, our Union State, as well as the good-neighborly and strong kinship ties that Russians and Belarusians share. It is important that almost all subjects of the Russian Federation and the regions of Belarus participate in the implementation of numerous mutually beneficial joint projects,» Vladimir Putin said.