From February 11 to 13, 2025, the Meeting of Newly Elected Mayors took place in Brasília, the capital of Brazil. The event was organised by the Secretariat for Institutional Relations of the Office of the President of Brazil. Over 20,000 people attended, including mayors from 5,500 Brazilian municipalities, heads of local administrations, parliamentarians, and experts in urban governance.
The main goal of the Meeting was to create a platform for the exchange of experience and best practices among mayors and representatives of city administrations. The event featured plenary sessions, panel discussions, specialised seminars, and roundtables, where pressing issues of municipal governance, digitalisation of urban services, sustainable development, and international cooperation were discussed.
The IMBRICS Forum delegation included:
Vyacheslav Manuylov – Deputy Head of the Department for External Economic and International Relations of Moscow, Executive Secretary of the IMBRICS Forum Organising Committee;
Maria Osipova – Deputy Head for cooperation with foreign partners of the Directorate for the preparation and holding of the IMBRICS Forum;
Henrique Domingues – Deputy Head for International Projects of the Directorate for the preparation and holding of the IMBRICS Forum;
Pedro Pugliese – IMBRICS Forum Ambassador for Brazil.
During the event, the Forum delegation held a series of bilateral meetings with mayors and deputy mayors of Brazilian municipalities, aimed at strengthening cooperation between cities in Russia and Brazil, including municipalities of Senador Modestino Gonçalves, Santo Antônio do Amparo, Cana Verde, Esperança, Aricanduva, Diamantina, Capelinha, Florianópolis, and Guarujá. The focus was on presenting Moscow and the International Municipal BRICS Forum (IMBRICS Forum), as well as discussing opportunities for commercial companies from participating cities. The upcoming IMBRICS Forum event in Brazil, scheduled for May 2025, was announced, and a database of partnership projects facilitating joint initiatives was presented.
Additionally, Vyacheslav Manuylov participated in the panel session "International Cooperation of Municipalities," representing the Russian side at the event. In his speech, he emphasised the importance of strengthening international ties at the city and interregional levels for the successful development of cities. Vyacheslav Manuylov noted that success depends on the ability of cities to establish sustainable partnerships with international counterparts, which contributes to economic growth and technological progress. He also highlighted key projects of Moscow, such as the "Digital Twin of Moscow," intelligent transportation, and the digital healthcare system, which have gained international recognition. Vyacheslav Manuylov expressed Moscow's readiness to expand cooperation with Brazil and proposed supporting the organisation of an IMBRICS Forum event in Brazil in 2025.
It is important to note that the Meeting of Newly Elected Mayors of Brazil took place during Brazil's BRICS presidency year, which contributed to strengthening dialogue among BRICS countries and creating new opportunities for joint initiatives. The event became a significant platform for international dialogue, exchange of experiences, and the search for joint solutions for urban development.