The Federation Council Speaker met with the Chairperson of the National Council of the Republic of Namibia.
Speaker of the Federation Council Valentina Matvienko met with Chairperson of the National Council of the Republic of Namibia Lukas Sinimbo Muha.
The meeting was attended by Chair of the Federation Council Committee on Foreign Affairs Grigory Karasin, First Deputy Chair of the Federation Council Committee on Foreign Affairs Vladimir Dzhabarov, First Deputy Chair of the Federation Council Committee on the Budget and Financial Markets and Head of the friendship group on cooperation between the Federation Council and the National Council of Namibia Yelena Perminova.
Valentina Matvienko and Lukas Sinimbo Muha signed an agreement on cooperation between the Federation Council and the National Council of Namibia.
The Federation Council Speaker noted that this agreement will raise Russian-Namibian relations to a new level and will become a valuable and effective instrument of interaction.
“The expansion of inter-parliamentary component will help reveal the full potential of multifaceted interstate cooperation,” Valentina Matvienko emphasised.
Lukas Sinimbo Muha said the Namibian people are grateful to Russia for its support and that the signed agreement will help upgrade inter-parliamentary and interstate cooperation.
He expressed the hope that Russian-Namibian inter-parliamentary ties will play an important role in developing bilateral cooperation.
Valentina Matvienko noted that Russia appreciates its experience of cooperation with Namibia, which is rooted in the heroic struggle of the Namibian people for self-determination. “Today, we are building our relations in most diverse areas – from the economy to culture – on this foundation. We highly value the Namibian President’s decision to take part in the second Russia-Africa Summit in St Petersburg on 26–29 July 2023,” she said.
Ms Matvienko suggested exchanging visits. “We are ready to send to Namibia a delegation of representatives of the Federation Council Committee on Foreign Affairs and members of the group of friendship with Namibia this year,” she said, expressing her support for invigorating inter-parliamentary contacts via videoconference.
Valentina Matvienko drew the attention of Lukas Sinimbo Muha to the Chamber of Young Legislators, which is operating in the Federation Council. She suggested establishing regular direct dialogue between young MPs from Russia and Namibia.
Ms Matvienko also spoke about consistent and practical work on updating the contractual and legal foundation of bilateral relations.
“We are satisfied with the progress that was achieved recently. The signed intergovernmental agreement on the mutual abolition of visa requirements will promote the growth of direct contacts between business people of our countries and intensification of humanitarian and tourism ties. At the same time, many useful contracts, intergovernmental agreements and interdepartmental memorandums are still being reviewed and coordinated. Our MPs should step up their efforts to complete the work on these documents and prepare them for signing as soon as possible,” Valentina Matvienko said.
In her opinion, Russia and Namibia are still to realise their full potential in such areas as trade, economic and investment cooperation. “Many Russian companies are interested in working in the Namibian market. We should make coordinated joint efforts to raise bilateral cooperation to a fundamentally new level. MPs should actively support the Intergovernmental Commission on Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation, which is making very practical and useful decisions in such areas as peaceful uses of nuclear energy, mining, energy, agriculture, fishing and transport,” the Federation Council Speaker said.
Valentina Matvienko also spoke about cooperation in education and study of the Russian language in Namibia and promotion of tourism.
Cooperation in the international arena was also discussed. Ms Matvienko noted that Russia and Namibia have a common position in favour of democratising international relations and strengthening the central coordinating role of the UN and its Security Council. “We consider it very important to reach consensus on the reform of the UN Security Council to ensure a more just representation of the developing nations in this main body that is responsible for international peace and security,” she said.
“Namibia adheres to the position on neutrality on the situation in Ukraine. We appreciate it that despite powerful pressure, Namibia remained firm and showed its resolve not to support the Western-launched anti-Russia campaign,” Valentina Matvienko emphasised.