The Federation Council Speaker briefly spoke with the delegations from Belarus, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Azerbaijan.
Federation Council Speaker, Chair of the CIS Interparliamentary Assembly Valentina Matvienko held meetings with several heads of CIS delegations at the 10th BRICS Parliamentary Forum. This year, the forum brought together almost 400 delegates from 16 countries from BRICS and the Inter-Parliamentary Union, including Russia, at the Tauride Palace in St Petersburg.
The Federation Council Speaker discussed of the10th BRICS Parliamentary Forum and prospects for interparliamentary cooperation in various formats with Speaker of the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of Belarus Natalya Kochanova. Valentina Matvienko noted the focus on harmonising the legislation of the BRICS countries and supporting the fundamental decisions of the association.
They also touched upon the results of the Forum of Regions of Russia and Belarus held this year. The importance of preserving historical memory was also discussed in the context of the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Minsk from the Nazi invaders. Valentina Matvienko and Natalya Kochanova highlighted the importance and relevance of the Memory Train, a cultural and educational project of the Union State.
During her meeting with Chair of the Senate of the Parliament of Kazakhstan Maulen Ashimbayev, the Speaker stressed that maintaining dialogue at the level of parliamentary speakers is an effective mechanism for comparing positions, developing areas of cooperation, and analysing results.
Speaking about the Parliamentary Forum, Valentina Matvienko focused on the opportunity to hold meetings and make proposals within the BRICS framework. The Federation Council Speaker praised Kazakhstan for successfully hosting the SCO summit.
Valentina Matvienko also thanked Kazakhstan for taking part in the Memory Train project and expressed her hope that representatives of all former Soviet republics will join it next year.
Maulen Ashimbayev said that partnership between Moscow and Astana was reliable.
He noted that the 10th BRICS Parliamentary Forum held in an extended format had already become historical.
“We will take an active part in the BRICS+ format.”
Promoting parliamentary cooperation was the focus of the meeting with Chair of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis (Parliament) of Uzbekistan Tanzila Narbayeva. The Federation Council Speaker thanked the Uzbekistani delegation for taking part in the 10th BRICS Parliamentary Forum, which served as a useful event to expand cooperation between legislators.
According to the Federation Council Speaker, the relations are developing rapidly and actively. Valentina Matvienko focused on Russian President Vladimir Putin’s state visit to Uzbekistan at the end of May 2024:
“The dialogue between the heads of state is particularly trust-based and friendly, which sets the tone for the entire range of bilateral relations.”
Tanzila Narbayeva emphasised that the CIS Interparliamentary Assembly (IPA CIS) was a parliamentary platform where significant events were regularly held, which could serve as an example for others.
“The assembly’s activities are aimed at bringing people closer together, exchanging experiences, and strengthening friendship.”
The Federation Council Speaker also had a conversation with Chair of the Milli Majlis of the Republic of Azerbaijan Sahiba Gafarova.
The meetings were attended by Chairman of the Federation Council Committee on Foreign Affairs Grigory Karasin and Secretary General of the IPA CIS Council Dmitry Kobitsky.