A team from this oldest city in the Philippines will fly to Russia to work for the sister-city agreement with major Pacific port city of Vladivostok, Mayor Michael Rama said Thursday.

In a virtual press conference, Rama said the effort to strike a sister-city deal with Russia’s eastern terminal for the Trans-Siberian Railway connecting Moscow will strengthen both cities’ culture and tourism.

Rama said he also intends to facilitate trading and investment agreements during his three-day visit to Russia.

“Sister-city program is always a continuing effort to establish ties, thus promoting goodwill, culture, arts, tourism, and heritage. Russia is a beautiful country. Our aim is to have a continuing relationship with them,” he said.

Rama said he had a talk with Governor Gwendolyn Garcia last Sunday regarding his plan to bring the name of the entire One Cebu Island in talking with the Vladivostok officials for the plan to enter into a sister-city agreement with the far-eastern city in Russia.

The governor, he said, had agreed with him.

Rama added he would also be meeting the Filipino community in Vladivostok.

Rama will attend the 8th Eastern Economic Forum from Sept. 10 to 13 and the Far East Street Exhibition, a showcase of Russian Far East region’s achievements in tourism, trade and investments.

According to the website, forumvostok.ru, this year’s economic forum will take place in Vladivostok’s Far Eastern Federal University campus.

The site said the forum is “a key international platform for establishing and strengthening ties within the Russian and global investment communities, and for comprehensive expert evaluation of the economic potential of the Russian Far East, the investment opportunities it offers, and business conditions within advanced special economic zones.” (PNA)