On June 28th 2024 a round table "The role of twin cities in modern international relations" was held at Volgograd State Socio-Pedagogical University. It was organized by the Volgograd administration and the International Association "Twin Cities". The event was held within the framework of the annual International Forum of Public Diplomacy "Dialogue on the Volga: Peace and Mutual Understanding in the XXI Century" and was dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the first-ever twinning between Stalingrad (USSR) and Coventry (Great Britain), as well as the 60th anniversary of the International Association "Twin Cities".

The round table was attended by representatives of the Federal Agency for the Commonwealth of Independent States, Compatriots Living Abroad and International Humanitarian Cooperation, members of the Board of the International Association "Twin Cities", as well as local authorities of Krasnodar, Rostov-on-Don, Volgograd, Novorossiysk, Yalta, Mozhaisk, Stupino, Pskov, Yaroslavl, Krasnoyarsk and Perm. In connection with the celebration of the anniversaries the experts discussed the cultural and historical phenomenon of twinning, the modern development of the international movement of twin cities and also shared their experience in implementing international relations in their municipalities.

The head of Volgograd Vladimir Marchenko addressed the participants of the meeting with a welcoming speech. He noted that in modern conditions through public diplomacy municipalities can and should confront common threats, promote international friendship and develop partnerships in the interests of the well-being and prosperity of their cities and residents.

Margarita Belitskaya moderator of the event and the head of the Center for Public Diplomacy at Volgograd State Socio-Pedagogical University expressed confidence that the experience shared by all the experts of the round table would become the basis for many new projects in the field of inter-municipal cooperation.

The International Forum of Public Diplomacy "Dialogue on the Volga: Peace and Mutual Understanding in the XXI century" is an international expert platform organized in order to strengthen cooperation and expand public relations for the most effective solution of modern global and regional problems. The Forum is held annually in Volgograd as part of the "Volgograd is the Capital of Public Diplomacy" project.