Chairman of Russia Muftis Council mufti sheikh Ravil Gaynutdin is taking part in the first session of Russian-Turkish Public Forum in Kazan.

This forum is aimed at promoting relations and mutual understanding between the two countries in the areas of culture and art, education and science, mass media and business relations, tourism and interfaith dialogue, law and other areas. It was founded in accordance with the resolution of the first session of a high-level Russian-Turkish Cooperation Council on the instructions of President of Russia and Prime Minister of the Turkish Republic, and constitutes a platform for strengthening cooperation between civic societies of the two countries.

According to the information from the official site of the Republic of Tatarstan, the forum brought together more than 100 scientists, businessmen and humanitarian scholars, heads of governmental and non-governmental organizations.

The opening ceremony was attended by the head of Rossotrudnichestvo, head of the Russian board of the forum Konstantin Kosachev, chairman of the commission for foreign relations of the Great National Assembly of Turkey, head of the Turkish board of the forum Volkan Bozkır, Russian President's envoy for international cultural cooperation Mikhail Shvydkoy and the Prime Minister of the Republic of Tatarstan Ildar Khalikov.

The speech of the Russian Muslim leader familiarized members of the forum with the cooperation between Russia Muftis Council and the Ministry of awqaf and Islamic affairs and other government institutions of Turkish Republic that RMC contacts and cooperates with in the areas of religious education as per memorandum of cooperation signed in 2008.

RMC press service