In the run-up to the Russia-Africa summit to be held in St Petersburg in July, the parliamentarians will use the conference to articulate proposals to strengthen ties, Valentina Matvienko said.
Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matvienko took part in the opening of a plenary session of the 2nd International Parliamentary Conference “Russia-Africa.”
President Putin spoke during the event.
“Our country has always prioritised and will continue to prioritise cooperation with African countries. It would not be an overstatement to say this is one of the unwavering priorities of Russian foreign policy,” Vladimir Putin said.
“We firmly believe that Africa will be among the leaders of the emerging new multipolar international order, since all the objective prerequisites for this are in place,” the President said.
Valentina Matvienko noted that the “Russia-Africa” International Parliamentary Conference was on track to become a traditional event, which shows mutual interest and an objectively growing level of cooperation between the Russian Federation and the African countries.
“Importantly, the Conference is taking place before the Russia-Africa summit in St Petersburg in July. Acting at the parliamentary level, we will be able to articulate proposals and ideas about promoting relations, strengthening ties in the political, economic and humanitarian spheres and enhancing the role of parliaments and submit them for consideration by the heads of state,” Valentina Matvienko said.
She pointed out that the international relations system was undergoing global and tectonic shifts. “The world is shedding the remaining shackles of colonial dependence and moving towards true multipolarity and a fairer international order. This world is unthinkable and impossible without Africa. Russia is not only fully supportive of this process, but is among its most energetic participants.”
The Federation Council Speaker went on to say that Russia has been and remains a proponent of the principles of equality, mutual respect and all countries’ inalienable right to independently decide their own future without outside interference. “Our interaction with African countries has relied on these principles for many decades now and has always been mutually beneficial and equitable.” Valentina Matvienko underscored that unlike Western countries Russia provides comprehensive support to its African friends without any pre-conditions or requirements.
The Federation Council Speaker noted the African countries’ growing role in the global economy. “Africa is a continent with immense potential, which has yet to be fully tapped. The continent’s international prestige is on the rise as well.” According to Valentina Matvienko, this is an objective and legitimate trend that the US-led collective West is unwilling to reckon with.
The Federation Council Speaker noted that these countries were not in a hurry to acknowledge their guilt for the genocide of the peoples of Africa, or the pillage and barbaric exploitation of Africa’s natural wealth and for the crimes they committed.
Valentina Matvienko called on the parliamentarians to raise the issue of making financial payments to all African nations that had been impacted during the colonial period by European oppressors and the fallout of colonialism. “The parliamentary community can rally around this initiative to hold former parent countries politically and morally accountable.”
The Federation Council Speaker also described parliamentary relations between Russia and Africa as a potent resource that should be put to good use.
“We saw our contacts noticeably intensify recently with the Federation Council delegations paying official visits to several African countries. In addition, Russian senators took part in the 145th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union hosted by Rwanda. In November 2022, the Federal Assembly obtained observer status in the African Parliamentary Union. As part of the current Russia-Africa conference, the delegations from Namibia, Mali, Madagascar and the African Parliamentary Union were invited to extend their stay in Russia and go on official visits under the Federation Council programme.
Valentina Matvienko emphasised the Russian senators’ valuable contribution to strengthening contacts under bilateral dialogue mechanisms. “The Federation Council operates through groups for cooperation with its colleagues from African countries. We are committed to increasing the number of such friendship groups and making sure their activities are substantive and meaningful.”
The Federation Council Speaker noted that the parliamentarians remained focused on deepening interregional cooperation and humanitarian contacts, promoting the tourist flow, training personnel and building up a dialogue on the women's agenda, in particular concerning enhancing the role of women in society and protecting motherhood and childhood.
“Russia and Africa are well aware of the importance of looking into the future and the opportunities for our youth,” Valentina Matvienko said, adding that there was a Chamber of Young Legislators under the Federation Council, the members of which seek to expand contacts with their African partners.
“African countries have always been Russia’s reliable partners and true allies. Our common goal is to change the world for the better and to ensure well-being and prosperity for the peoples of Russia and Africa,” the Federation Council Speaker said in closing.
“Today, the African continent is playing an important role in addressing global and regional issues, and this role will continue to grow,” State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin noted in his remarks, adding that Russia and African countries were equal allies and partners.
More than 40 official parliamentary delegations from most African countries are taking part in the International Parliamentary Conference joined by representatives of the academic, educational and expert community from Russia and Africa, Russian senators, State Duma deputies and senior federal government officials.
The Conference’s goals are to strengthen parliamentary cooperation with African countries as the multipolar world is taking shape, to promote relations and to develop common approaches to legal regulations in the economy, science and education and security.
Round table discussions were held on 19 March with the participation of First Deputy Chair of the Federation Council Committee on Science, Education and Culture Iliyas Umakhanov; First Deputy Chair of the Federation Council Committee on the Budget and Financial Markets Yelena Perminova; First Deputy Chair of the Federation Council Committee on Foreign Affairs Vladimir Dzhabarov; Deputy Chair of the Federation Council Committee on the Budget and Financial Markets Mukharby Ulbashev; Deputy Chair of the Federation Council Committee on Foreign Affairs Andrey Klimov; Deputy Chair of the Federation Council Committee on Defence and Security Yuri Valyaev; Member of the Federation Council Committee on Constitutional Legislation and State Building Alexander Bashkin. The senators took part in the following discussions: Parliamentary Support for Cooperation in Science and Education; Legislative Response to Economic Challenges; Indivisible Security: Capabilities and Contributions of Parliaments; and Neocolonialism of the West: Preventing History from Repeating itself.