The meeting participants discussed current issues of bilateral relations and exchanged opinions on the regional and international agenda.
Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matvienko met with President of the Republic of Zimbabwe Emmerson Mnangagwa.
According to Valentina Matvienko, the traditionally friendly ties between Russia and Zimbabwe, which date back to the Zimbabwean people’s fight for independence, have great potential.
“In the current difficult conditions, it is necessary to use them to the full for the benefit of both countries’ state interests,” the Federation Council Speaker said.
She emphasised that inter-parliamentary relations are developing actively in addition to contacts at the high and highest levels.
Valentina Matvienko told Emmerson Mnangagwa that Russia and Zimbabwe have agreed on a memorandum of cooperation in scientific, technical and innovative activity. “I believe that the practice of signing bilateral interagency documents on the sidelines of parliamentary visits is very useful,” she said.
The Federation Council Speaker also noted the support provided by her Zimbabwean colleagues to Russia’s foreign policy initiatives. “It is also important that Harare has adopted a balanced position regarding the situation in Ukraine.”
During the meeting, Valentina Matvienko and Emmerson Mnangagwa also discussed expanding Russia-Zimbabwe trade and economic ties.
“Bilateral trade between our countries is not in keeping with its potential so far. Therefore, we consider it our main task at the current stage to create conditions to boost mutual trade and diversify it. We believe that the joint fruitful work within the Russia-Zimbabwe Inter-Governmental Commission for Economic, Trade, Scientific and Technical Cooperation will facilitate the implementation of these plans,” Valentina Matvienko said.
During her conversation with journalists, she underscored that the Republic of Zimbabwe was interested in developing cooperation in a range of areas. “On our part, we are also ready for fruitful interaction,” the Federation Council Speaker noted.
“The President and I discussed issues of food security. Russia is ready to do everything in its power to prevent a food crisis. We are ready to fulfil all of our contractual obligations. Should Zimbabwe address Russia, we will develop a mechanism of arranging deliveries together and provide Zimbabwe with the necessary amount of food,” Valentina Matvienko said.
She emphasised that Russia is interested in developing mutually beneficial cooperation with the countries of the African continent. “It is a key foreign policy priority for the Russian Federation.”
The Federation Council delegation included Deputy Speaker of the Federation Council Konstantin Kosachev, Chair of the Federation Council Committee on Foreign Affairs Grigory Karasin, Chair of the Federation Council Committee on Economic Policy Andrey Kutepov, Chair of the Federation Council Committee on Federal Structure, Regional Policy, Local Government and Northern Affairs Andrei Shevchenko, First Deputy Chair of the Federation Council Committee on Social Policy Alexander Varfolomeev, First Deputy Chair of the Federation Council Committee on Constitutional Legislation and State Building Irina Rukavishnikova, Deputy Chair of the Federation Council Committee on Defence and Security Yuri Valyaev, Deputy Chair of the Federation Council Committee on the Budget and Financial Markets Mukharby Ulbashev, and member of the Federation Council Committee on Science, Education and Culture Lyudmila Skakovskaya.