The Federation Council Speaker sent a video address to the participants of the 9th BRICS Parliamentary Forum in Johannesburg.
Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matvienko addressed the 9th BRICS Parliamentary Forum, underway in Johannesburg, South Africa, and spoke about Russia’s chairmanship programme for next year, which will take place under the motto Strengthening Multilateralism for Equitable Global Development and Security. So far, the planned programme already includes about 200 events, the Speaker said.
“We will further implement the BRICS strategic policy through our parliaments, which meets the interests of the major part of the international community, the so-called global majority,” the Federation Council Speaker said. “During our chairmanship of BRICS, we will interact with our partners in the most constructive ways to further enhance the role and credibility of the association and its parliamentary aspects, which will obviously only grow.”
Valentina Matvienko called on her colleagues from the BRICS countries to provide as much support as possible to the six new BRICS members, including consultations to ensure the legal framework for cooperation. In January 2024, BRICS will be joined by Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Iran, Ethiopia, and Egypt, she noted.
According to the Federation Council Speaker, during Russian chairmanship, the parties will discuss legislative measures to ensure further progressive development of BRICS countries as well as the implementation of its Economic Partnership Strategy until 2025. “We deem it necessary to continue our legislative efforts at BRICS to provide conditions for supply chain diversification, de-dollarisation, and the transition to national currencies in mutual transactions,” Valentina Matvienko emphasised, adding that Russia will pay particular attention to the development of logistics and transcontinental routes, including the North-South transport corridor, as well as to discussions of Russia’s initiative to create a commission on transport within the BRICS framework.
The Federation Council Speaker said the Russian chairmanship will include a comprehensive scientific and humanitarian agenda. “We also plan to improve parliamentary support for partnerships in healthcare, nuclear medicine, education, science, innovation, fair technology transfer, and development of the digital economy and AI, as well as protection and enhancement of global cultural heritage,” she noted.
The Federation Council Speaker said she expected parliamentarians to continue their joint work on the women and youth agenda, and mentioned that the BRICS Women’s Business Alliance was established at Russia’s initiative.
Valentina Matvienko noted with satisfaction the progress achieved in BRICS institutional development, and invited her colleagues to take part in the 10th BRICS Parliamentary Forum in St Petersburg in 2024. The Federation Council Speaker said the work on the Rules of Procedure will continue to make BRICS strategic partnerships more efficient, practical and result-oriented.
The events of the 9th BRICS Parliamentary Forum were also attended by Deputy Speaker of the Federation Council Konstantin Kosachev, Chair of the Federation Council Committee on Agriculture and Food Policy and Environmental Management Alexander Dvoinykh, and Member of the Federation Council Committee on Economic Policy Alexander Trembitsky.