INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS OF THE REPUBLIC OF BASHKORTOSTAN
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS OF THE REPUBLIC OF BASHKORTOSTAN are being carried out in accordance with the RF principles of international policy by Head of the RB, the State Assembly — Kurultay of the RB, the State Committee of the Republic of Bashkortostan on foreign economic relations, Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the RB, and other federal and republican authorities, organizations and firms. In 1994, the Representative Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation in Ufa was among the first of its kind in Russia. The RB is represented in the working groups of the Council of Heads of Subjects of the Russian Federation under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, participates in the work of intergovernmental commissions and working groups on trade and economy, scientific, technical and cultural cooperation with foreign countries. In the Republic, there are intergovernmental commissions and interdepartmental working groups on trade and economy, scientific, technical and cultural cooperation between the RB and its foreign partners. With the assistance of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia and its Representative Office in Ufa, the RB regularly (between 30 and 40 delegations per year) carries out the exchange of governmental and diplomatic delegations with foreign state (in 2017, the RB was visited by 42 official foreign delegations, with 44 visits of the RB official delegation to other countries). The Republic participates in the activities of the International Organization of Turkic Culture (TURKSOY, since 1993), the UN for Education, Science and Culture (UNESCO, since 1998), the UN for Industrial Development (UNIDO, since 1999), etc. In Ufa, there is a branch of the Embassy of the Republic of Belarus in the Russian Federation (since 2000) and General Consulate of the Republic of Tajikistan (since 2011). In July, 2015, the SCO and BRICS summits were held in Ufa. In 2008, the RB supported foreign trade relations with 101 countries, in 2017 — with 124 countries of the world. Basic partners: Belarus, Germany, India, Kazakhstan, China, Latvia, Netherlands, Turkey, Ukraine and Finland (ref. Economic Relations). In terms of investment, the RB is among ten leaders within the Russian Federation constituent entities (ref. Investment Policy). The AS, Ufa Federal Research Centre RAS, and universities of the Republic carry out I.R. on the basis of agreements on cooperation with research in- stitutes and universities from more than 30 countries of the world. Annually, representatives participate in exhibitions in other countries with two to three international exhibitions are being held in Ufa. In 2017, 363 companies from 16 near and far-abroad countries and 39 regions of the Russian Federation attended the 25th Gas. Oil. Technologies International Specialized Exhib tion. The F.Gaskarov Folk Dance Ensemble performed in more than 50 countries of the world. The RB regularly hosts the R.Nureyev International Festival of Ballet Arts, Tuganlyk, Berdemlek — Sodruzhestvo, Chalyapinskiye Vechera in Ufa, and Serdtse Yevrazii (Heart of Eurasia, since 2016) international festivals, etc. The RB has national cultural associations and friendship societies with Arab coun- tries, Bulgaria, Great Britain, Germany, Israel, India, China, USA, France, etc.
