The development of the Relationship between Nizhny Novgorod and Sant Boi de Llobregat

Nizhny Novgorod and Sant Boi have been always had friendly relations. In fact, in 1991 the Association "Friends of Nizhny Novgorod (Gorky)" started its work in Sant Boi. Together with Nizhny Novgorod City Administration the Association annually organizes festivals of Spanish culture in Nizhny Novgorod. Another important area is tourism. Thus, our city was visited by numerous dance and theatre groups, and more than 4000 Spanish tourists through this Association.

To increase the activity of the Association in 2006 there was created a special website in Spanish, devoted to Nizhny Novgorod, its history, culture and public life. The site is quite popular, especially in Spanish-speaking countries (about 5000 visits a year) - www.amicsdegorki.tk.

In October, 1999 Nizhny Novgorod team took part in competition of beach volleyball in Spain.

On August 23-24, 2000 in Nizhny Novgorod, a Spanish dancing group of flamenco of Danei de Kornello presented its show "Round Dance of the Year" in Nizhny Novgorod. The show was organized by the Association "Friends of Nizhny Novgorod".

In April, 2001 negotiations between representatives of Sant Boi de Llobregat City Administration and the chairman of the Association 'Friends of Nizhny Novgorod", Mr. Jaume Rabassa, on carrying out of joint cultural projects were held.

In August, 2001 the performances of Spanish folklore group "Devils from Casablanca" and a Spanish guitarist, Oscar Martinez, took place in Nizhny Novgorod.

On August 11-19, 2005 a cultural program "Days of Catalonia" was in Nizhny Novgorod, when Nizhny Novgorod was visited by the mayor of Sant Boi de Llobregat, Montserrat Guibelt, and the president of the Association "Friends of Nizhny Novgorod", the director of the theatre "Can Massalleras", Mr. Jaume Ramoneda Rabassa. The program included a musical show of flamenco "Sighs of Spain" in the Philharmonic society concert hall, a concert of the Spanish symphonic orchestra "Agrupacio Musical Senienca", a carnival of musicians in Bolshaya Pokrovskaya Street, a presentation of the exhibition "Spanish Etudes" of Nizhny Novgorod artists, Valeriya Nadezhdina and Michael Krapivin, in the cinema "Record" and films of Spanish directors.

The delegation of Sant Boi headed by the vice-mayor (now the mayor) of Sant Boi, Jaume Bosch, visited Nizhny Novgorod in 2005. Besides the delegation included the head of the municipal theatre "Can Massaleras", the president of the Association, Mr. Jaume Ramoneda Rabassa.

In June, 2008 Nizhny Novgorod was visited by the delegation of Sant Boi that included the mayor, Mr. Jaume Bosch y Puges, Mr. Jose Angel Carcelen, the 1st Mayor's Councillor responsible for the promotion and development of the city, Mr. Celso Gonzalez, Sister Cities Councillor, and Mr. Jaume Rabassa, the president of the Association "Friends of Nizhny Novgorod". In the course of the meeting of the delegation with the mayor of Nizhny Novgorod, Vadim Bulavinov the decision on establishment sister-city relations between Nizhny Novgorod and Sant Boi was reached and the basic directions of cooperation in the sphere of education, sports, culture and tourism were defined.

In March - May, 2009 in the cultural centre of Barcelona the exhibition of Nizhny Novgorod's artists was presented.

On May 19, 2009 within a framework of the visit of delegation of Nizhny Novgorod to Sant Boi, the parties signed the Agreement on establishment sister-city relations.

On September 11-17, 2009 a delegation from Sant Boi de Llobregat visited Nizhny Novgorod. The delegation headed by the mayor of the city, Mr. Jaume Bosch, also included Mr. Jose Angel Carcelen, the 1st Mayor's Councillor responsible for the promotion and development of the city, Mr. Celso Gonzalez, Sister Cities Councillor, and Mr. Jaume Rabassa, the president of the Association "Friends of Nizhny Novgorod". The visit was in the framework of Nizhny Novgorod City Day Celebration. The guests visited Nizhny Novgorod Fair, Nizhny Novgorod region Chamber of Commerce and Industry, OJSC "Nizhny Novgorod Vodokanal", the linguistic grammar school №13, the puppet theatre, the football club "Nizhny Novgorod", the medical academy, the city hospital №5 and the gynaecological centre №29, the boys' choral chapel. They also met the president of the union "Russian Artists", V.N. Velichko. The most important event was negotiations with the leaders of Nizhny Novgorod region CCI. The ways of further cooperation and organization of business matching meetings in 2010 were discussed. Another important meeting was in OJSC "Nizhny Novgorod Vodokanal". The representative of a Spanish water supplying company AGBAR met the general director of "Nizhny Novgorod Vodokanal", A.A. Pavlov, to discuss the possibilities of further cooperation.