Video: Leaders of CIS Countries Welcomed with Christmas Carols

The informal meeting of the leaders of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) has commenced in St. Petersburg. During a tour of the palace and park complexes of St. Petersburg, Russian President Vladimir Putin invited his partners from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan to engage.

The leaders of the CIS countries arrived at the Pavlovsk State Museum-Reserve, followed by events at Tsarskoye Selo and Peterhof. At Pavlovsk, all guests were welcomed with Christmas carols by a choir, except for the Presidents of Azerbaijan and Belarus, who were holding a bilateral meeting at that time.

The Northern Symphony Symphony Orchestra, featuring soloists cellist Sergey Roldugin and violinist Pavel Milyukov, performed several classical waltzes and romances. The mini-concert was hosted by Mikhail Shvydkoy, the special representative of the President for international cultural cooperation.

The informal CIS summit will conclude at the Konstantin Palace in Strelna.