Minister Grabar-Kitarović visited St. Petersburg, met with Vice-Governor Viktor Lobko

The two discussed the further development and extension of co-operation in all areas, especially in view of the fact that Zagreb and St. Petersburg are brother cities and that St. Petersburg, in Vice-Governor Lobko’s words, is one of the largest cultural centres of the Russian Federation.

Both sides confirmed the existence of good co-operation in the field of construction, education and, above all, culture. Culture is the key of development and extension of the overall co-operation, the two agreed.

Minister Grabar-Kitarović confirmed Croatia’s interest in the continuation and strengthening of co-operation in culture, as well as science and technology, adding that in that sense she sees initiating co-operation between regions and brother cities as a good framework for the development of relations.

Vice-Governor Lobko drew attention to the fact that there are 33,000 foreign students studying in the Russian Federation, 12,000 of which in St. Petersburg, adding that there is a possibility of enhancing the co-operation between the Croatian universities and the University of St. Petersburg. He pointed out that the university also features the Croatian language studies and annually holds the Croatian culture day.

Minister Grabar-Kitarović concluded that the official visit to the Russian Federation is a step forward in the development of the overall co-operation, describing it as exceptionally useful, both as regards the possibilities of further developing the economic relations and strengthening the ties in the field of culture and science, and the academic co-operation.