The Federation Council Speaker reported on the talks held during a Russian delegation’s visit to China.
Russian and Chinese MPs held substantive and constructive talks in Beijing, Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matvienko told journalists. “We discussed a broad range of both bilateral and international issues.”
According to the Federation Council Speaker, the prompt organisation of this visit to China, held just several months after the election of the National People's Congress, shows a desire to relaunch the Interparliamentary Commission and cooperation between the Russian and Chinese legislatures.
Valentina Matvienko pointed out that the main task for MPs is to provide a legal framework for implementing the agreements reached by the two leaders. “We discussed the areas where parliamentary support is especially important, ways to coordinate our actions, the exchange of lawmaking experience and the adjustment of our legislation to the new challenges and threats,” the Speaker said.
She noted that Russia-China economic cooperation is not mere trade but close interaction in high technology, innovations, electronics and space and in implementing large bilateral projects at the interregional and international levels. “China has a positive view of our cross-border interregional cooperation. The MPs expressed interest in expanding our cooperation,” she said.
Valentina Matvienko added that Russia and China are sincerely interested in strengthening and broadening bilateral ties.
“Neither China nor Russia will allow anyone to speak with them in the language of threats and blackmail. This is why our relations are based on the principles of mutual respect and a balance of each other’s interests. It is a solid basis [for cooperation], just like our years-long friendship,” Valentina Matvienko pointed out.
Replying to a question about the future development of multilateral associations, the Federation Council Speaker said that Russia and its BRICS partners do not develop their group as an alternative to any international organisations or blocs. “We regard the SCO and BRICS as alternatives to the unipolar world,” she said.
Valentina Matvienko noted that NATO is an aggressive military bloc that is trying to ensure domination of the collective West and that the time had come to formulate the legal conditions for the operation of various military blocs and unions. “Neither the UN nor any other organisation have done this so far. We will discuss this issue at the parliamentary level. We should prepare proposals and forward them to the UN for drafting international documents or provisions of an international law regulating the activities of military blocs and unions,” she said.
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In Beijing, the Federation Council Speaker laid a wreath at the Monument to the People's Heroes of China built in 1952–1958 to commemorate those who perished in the revolutionary struggle of the Chinese people in the 19th and 20th centuries.
The agenda of the visit included a tour of the National Museum of China. Valentina Matvienko also visited the Beijing Dance Academy and talked with its artists after a performance. She praised the performers’ skills and the Chinese choreographers’ talent, and spoke in favour of developing cooperation between the leading Russian and Chinese dance schools, including student exchanges, which is very important for creative professions. The Speaker noted that Chinese dancers could perform in Russia soon and reminded her audience about the two leaders’ agreement to hold cross-years of culture in Russia and China in 2024–2025.
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A delegation of the Federal Assembly led by Valentina Matvienko was in China on an official visit from 9 to 12 July.
The delegation included Deputy Speakers of the Federation Council Konstantin Kosachev and Nikolai Zhuravlev, Chair of the Federation Council Committee on Social Policy Inna Svyatenko, 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 Foreign Affairs Andrey Denisov, First Deputy Chair of the Federation Council Committee on Economic Policy Ivan Abramov, Deputy Speaker of the State Duma Alexander Babakov, State Duma deputies Vyacheslav Nikonov, Mikhail Shchapov, Stanislav Naumov and Roza Chemeris, head of the Republic of Mari El Yury Zaitsev, Speaker of the Irkutsk Region Legislative Assembly Alexander Vedernikov, Speaker of the Primorye Territory Legislative Assembly Alexander Rolik, and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to China Igor Morgulov.