Russian senators took part in a round table discussion on region-to-region cooperation as part of the KazanSummit 2021 forum.
Grigory Karasin, Chair of the Federation Council Committee on Foreign Affairs, spoke at the round table discussion dedicated to region-to-region cooperation on the subject “Converting Networking into Contacts.”
The event was held as part of the 12th International Economic Summit “Russia — Islamic World: KazanSummit 2021” that is taking place in Kazan and was moderated by Farit Mukhametshin, Deputy Chair of the Federation Council Committee on Foreign Affairs.
First Deputy Chair of the Federation Council Committee on Economic Policy Lenar Safin, members of the Federation Council Committee on Federal Structure, Regional Policy, Local Government and Northern Affairs Dmitry Kuzmin and Anatoly Shirokov, member of the Federation Council Committee on Economic Policy Irek Yalalov, Russia’s Permanent Representative at the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation Ramazan Abdulatipov, Vice President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation Vladimir Padalko, Minister of Trade and Integration of the Republic of Kazakhstan Bakhyt Sultanov, representatives of legislative and executive bodies of state power of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation, and foreign guests took part in the discussions.
According to Grigory Karasin, as a chamber representing the regions, the Federation Council promotes effective interaction between the constituent entities of the Russian Federation and foreign countries’ regions. “In the face of fewer in-person international contacts as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, the Federation Council has continued its efforts to maintain the inter-parliamentary dialogue both bilaterally and internationally. At the same time, as part of inter-parliamentary interaction, the senators constantly keep in sight matters related to expanding partnerships between regions, cities and urban agglomerations.“
According to Grigory Karasin, given the fact that many Russian regions are border regions, special attention is paid to their relations with neighbouring states. “With the active engagement of the Federation Council, the Federal Law On the Foundations of Cross-Border Cooperation in the Russian Federation has been drafted and adopted, the senator said.
He pointed out that in accordance with the legislation, the federal centre provides the state bodies of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation with the necessary legal and expert advice for promoting international and foreign economic relations, organising and conducting talks, drafting appropriate agreements on implementing international and foreign economic relations and the above agreements. “At the same time, the federal bodies also ensure the protection of the rights and legitimate interests of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation in foreign countries.”
The potential of region-to-region cooperation is far from being fully tapped, Grigory Karasin said. “Our partners in the Islamic world, primarily, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, are aware of this.”
Amid converging positions based on balanced approaches to a number of issues of the modern international order, Russia and the OIC express their mutual commitment to the principles of building an architecture of the multipolar international order and the inviolability of international law, show mutual interest in deepening bilateral cooperation, and also demonstrate common approaches to a number of key international and regional problems, the parliamentarian said.
“Russia and the OIC are interacting in promising areas such as trade and the economy, scientific and technical research, culture and information. Joint work is underway seeking to resolve a number of conflicts in the OIC area and to fight terrorism and extremism. Viable practical approaches have been developed to establish inter-religious dialogue and joint work on human rights and protection of family values. Our countries are interacting on pressing international matters.”
According to Grigory Karasin, Russia has taken note of the fact that the OIC member states fully realise the scope of the forthcoming work in this area. “The year 2020 marked the 15th anniversary of Russia's participation as an observer in this organisation. Russia is the only permanent member of the UN Security Council that enjoys this status.”
The senator also informed the round-table participants about preparations for the World Conference on Intercultural and Interreligious Dialogue with the participation of heads of state, parliaments and leaders of world religions, which will be held in St Petersburg in May 2022 and sponsored by the UN and the Inter-Parliamentary Union.
According to Farit Mukhametshin, region-to-region cooperation has become an increasingly popular part of international relations. “This collaboration has great potential.”
Dmitry Kuzmin, who represents the legislative body of state power of the Kemerovo Region — Kuzbass — in the Federation Council, has come up with a presentation about Kuzbass as one of the dynamically growing Russian regions for the forum participants.
A meaningful discussion has taken place. The participants discussed mechanisms for reinvigorating interaction between regions, converting business contacts into concrete agreements, as well as the parliamentarians’ objectives in legislative support for expanding cross-border and region-to-region cooperation.