The Federation Council Speaker met with the President of Kyrgyzstan at the Federation Council.
Speaker of the Federation Council Valentina Matvienko and President of the Kyrgyz Republic Sadyr Japarov discussed interaction between the two states, including at the parliamentary level.
Valentina Matvienko believes Sadyr Japarov's visit to Moscow will give a powerful boost to Russian-Kyrgyz relations.
The Speaker noted the high level of Russia-Kyrgyzstan relations and the countries’ overlapping positions in politics, the economy, culture and in the international arena in general. “Our relations are based on alliance and strategic partnership.”
Sadyr Japarov said Kyrgyzstan is Russia’s long-term partner and reliable ally. “We are committed to complying with the previously reached agreements between our countries. These talks will strengthen the foundation of interaction between our two countries and dynamically promote our relations.”
The President of Kyrgyzstan thanked the Russian authorities for providing support during the pandemic. “Russia has regularly supplied humanitarian aid in the form of personal protective gear and sent in medical teams who helped Kyrgyz doctors combat the virus.”
Valentina Matvienko pointed out the importance of the parliamentary dimension in bilateral relations. “Interparliamentary cooperation is an important component of interstate relations. We look forward to continuing the good traditions of constructive interaction with Kyrgyz legislators.“
The Speaker said the activities of the Interparliamentary Commission for Cooperation were productive: “We hope the commission will resume its activities after the election to the Kyrgyz parliament.” At the same time, Valentina Matvienko believes that the ties between specialised committees and commissions still have much to offer.
The parties discussed the international monitoring of elections in the two countries and noted the energetic participation of Russian and Kyrgyz parliamentarians as observers.
According to the Speaker, direct ties between the regions of the two states are making progress: “It’s an effective cooperation mechanism. Expanded regional cooperation leads to expanded trade.”
The participants expressed hope for holding another Russian-Kyrgyz interregional conference this year.
The Speaker noted that the CIS Interparliamentary Assembly as well as other international venues have become an important platform for promoting joint initiatives. “The harmonisation of our legislations and the formation of a single legal space create proper conditions for expanding business and cultural cooperation. Clearly, integration associations such as the EAEU are beneficial for all participants and increase their competitiveness.”
Valentina Matvienko stressed that education is a priority in terms of cooperation. The Federation Council Speaker and the President of Kyrgyzstan discussed, in particular, ways to expand the programme under which Russian teachers are working at Kyrgyz schools.
Valentina Matvienko invited representatives of Kyrgyzstan to participate in the Third Eurasian Women's Forum, which will be held in St Petersburg this year.
The meeting was also attended by Deputy Speaker of the Federation Council Iliyas Umakhanov; Chair of the Federation Council Committee on Foreign Affairs Konstantin Kosachev; Chair of the Federation Council Committee on Science, Education and Culture Lilia Gumerova; Chair of the Federation Council Committee on Federal Structure, Regional Policy, Local Self-Government and Northern Affairs Oleg Melnichenko; First Deputy Chair of the Federation Council Committee on Agriculture and Food Policy and Environmental Management Sergei Mitin; Deputy Chair of the Federation Council Committee on Foreign Affairs and Deputy Co-Chair of the Russian side of the Inter-Parliamentary Commission on Cooperation between the Federal Assembly and the Jogorku Kenesh Farit Mukhametshin.