Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matvienko meets with Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Namibia Peter Katjavivi
Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matvienko spoke before both chambers of the Parliament of the Republic of Namibia.
Valentina Matvienko said that, for decades, Russia and Namibia have enjoyed friendly and trust-based relations that had been established long before the official diplomatic ties back in the 1960s.
“A number of bilateral agreements underlie relations between our countries, and their number is on the rise,” Valentina Matvienko said.
She pointed out the overlapping positions on many key items on the international agenda. “We greatly appreciate the support that our Namibian colleagues provide to the Russian delegation at the UN.”
According to Valentina Matvienko, the two countries enjoy major potential in the field of trade and the economy. The priority tasks include joint projects in spheres such as mining, civil aviation equipment supplies, defence cooperation and tourism. “Introducing advanced technology in agriculture appears to be a separate and very promising area of cooperation. Projects in the fisheries are of great interest to businesses as well.”
The Federation Council Speaker emphasised the need to effectively use cooperation between the regions of Russia and Namibia. “This cooperation will help to diversify the mutual trade structure and significantly increase its volumes. As a chamber representing the regions of Russia, the Federation Council can be instrumental here.”
Valentina Matvienko noted that a number of mutually beneficial contracts were concluded during the Russia-Africa Summit held in Sochi in the autumn. Also, the participants adopted a declaration which enshrined a commitment to hold such a summit once every three years. “A standing dialogue format was thus created which the parliamentarians should join as well,” Valentina Matvienko said.
She pointed out that Russia is focusing on promoting people-to-people ties. The Federation Council Speaker noted that about 500 Namibian students are studying in Russia at the moment, of which 219 are majoring in medicine. “We are constantly trying to increase the number of publicly funded quotas for Namibian students,” Valentina Matvienko mentioned.
She also said that in late January the Federation Council approved a law simplifying foreign students’ employment in Russia. “We will continue to work on this so that the Namibian students feel at home in our country.”
Valentina Matvienko touched upon environmental conservation as well. “Fragile environmental balance on the planet can only be maintained through joint efforts of the humankind,” Valentina Matvienko said. “To this end, we should build up international scientific and technical cooperation, exchange experience and implement the best available and environmentally friendly technology, she added saying that good cooperation potential is available in this area.
The Federation Council Speaker noted that the role of parliamentary diplomacy is objectively increasing. “An open, equal and candid dialogue between the parliamentarians helps find common ground in overcoming challenges, promoting a positive and unifying agenda, and promoting trust between the nations,” Valentina Matvienko said.
She praised the active work of the Namibian delegation at the 137th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, which was held in St Petersburg in 2017, and invited female Namibian leaders to participate in the Third Eurasian Women's Forum to be held in Russia in 2021.
The Federation Council Speaker noted that the UN General Assembly supported the Inter-Parliamentary Union’s initiative to host an International Conference on Inter-Religious and Inter-Ethnic Dialogue in Russia in 2022. Valentina Matvienko invited Namibia to participate in this major event.
The Federation Council Speaker focused on the subject of Victory in the WWII. She called on her Namibian colleagues to join in the initiative to recognise Victory over Nazism in WWII as the World Heritage and the monuments to those who fought against Nazism the World Memorial Sites.
Also, Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matvienko met with Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Namibia Peter Katjavivi.
Valentina Matvienko said that Russia is ready and willing to promote cooperation in the interest of the Russian and Namibian peoples.
“Inter-parliamentary relations are an integral part of the Russian-Namibian political dialogue. We expect that the visit of the Russian parliamentarians will give an additional boost to providing more effective legislators’ support for joint projects that can be developed between our countries or between our respective businesses,” Valentina Matvienko said.
“Our respective parliaments can help promote cooperation between Russia and Namibia.”
Peter Katjavivi said Namibia was determined to continue relations with Russia.
“Parliamentary institutions should continue to work to strengthen mutual ties,” he said adding that specific fields of cooperation should be identified.
Namibia’s National Assembly Speaker also noted that the IPU is a good international platform for interaction, and inter-parliamentary relations contribute to progress in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.