On September 29, with the support of the Russian House in Brussels, a joint evening entitled Taste of Friendship, organized by the Embassies of Russia, Belarus and Nicaragua in Belgium, was held at the Russian House. The event was dedicated to the cultural and culinary traditions of the three countries.

The guests included heads and staff members of more than 15 diplomatic missions of Global Majority countries, representatives of Belgian civil society, as well as Russian, Belarusian and Nicaraguan compatriots.

In his remarks, Russian Ambassador to Belgium Denis Gonchar recalled the Russian-Nicaraguan literary and musical evening that was held at the Russian House in February and met with great success, and warmly welcomed the Belarusian colleagues’ joining this format. Speaking about the main theme of the gathering, the head of the Russian diplomatic mission emphasized:

“Cuisine is a mirror of history, culture, traditions and, in a sense, the soul of a people. Russia is particularly rich in this respect: its culinary palette is shaped by the culinary traditions of more than 190 peoples living in the country and is the result of millennia of mutual cultural enrichment.”

For his part, Chargé d’Affaires of Belarus in Belgium Siarhei Panasiuk noted that even vast geographical distances cannot stand in the way of sincere friendship, mutual respect and cultural unity between Russia, Belarus and Nicaragua, which demonstrate a unique example of open and equal dialogue.

In turn, Ambassador of Nicaragua to Belgium César Augusto Castañeda Lacayo, thanking the Russian and Belarusian diplomatic missions, as well as the Russian House in Brussels, for their cooperation, emphasized that organizing such joint events is an especially effective way of further strengthening the friendly relations between our countries.

The evening’s programme included a presentation of a Russian exhibition prepared, among other sources, using materials from the Russian Geographical Society. The exhibition showcases the beauty of Russia’s natural landscapes and the architectural uniqueness of its churches and cities. In connection with the Year of Women, celebrated in Belarus in 2026, colleagues from the fraternal diplomatic mission presented guests with a colourful exhibition highlighting the achievements of Belarusian women in modern science, space exploration and sport.

The event was enhanced by dance and musical performances showcasing the rich cultural traditions of the three countries. The celebration concluded with a tasting of Russian, Belarusian and Nicaraguan cuisine — the very taste of friendship that gave the gathering its name.