The document offers a solid legal framework for promoting inter-parliamentary ties, the two speakers of their respective upper chambers of parliament pointed out.
Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matvienko had a meeting in Islamabad with Chairman of Pakistan’s Senate Yusuf Raza Gilani as part of the visit by a Federation Council delegation to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Following the meeting, the parties signed a Memorandum of Understanding between the Federation Council and the Senate of Pakistan.
During the meeting, the two parliamentarians reaffirmed the friendly relations between the two countries and the high level of their bilateral political ties, including at the high and the highest levels, as well as efforts to step up inter-parliamentary contacts. “The Memorandum of Understanding between the Federation Council and the Senate of Pakistan will offer a solid legal framework for expanding our inter-parliamentary ties on a system-wide basis,” the Federation Council Speaker pointed out.
She went on to say that parliamentarians could also accompany and assist the Russian-Pakistani Intergovernmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation in its efforts, as well as promote projects in culture, education, and tourism, while also creating a favourable environment for undertaking industrial and investment projects.
The groups of friendship can play a major role in carrying out the Memorandum, including by holding video conferences, Valentina Matvienko said. She suggested tasking the friendship groups with reviewing the existing legal framework, as well as the draft agreements which have yet to be adopted and are currently being reviewed by Russia and Pakistan.
Stepping up region-to-region ties and promoting twin-city relations is another important item on the bilateral agenda. “There is a lot of potential in terms of promoting cooperation with Punjab, while the St Petersburg Government has already an agreement on working together with the Sindh Province in trade, the economy, research and technology, as well as cultural affairs. St Petersburg has also been in touch with Karachi,” the Federation Council Speaker said.
In his remarks, Yusuf Raza Gilani talked about his unwavering commitment and consistent efforts to strengthen bilateral cooperation in various areas, including the economy, energy, agriculture, and humanitarian affairs. He also talked at length about efforts to develop and promote parliamentarism in Pakistan, and his previous positions as a government official.
Meeting between Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matvienko and Chairman of the Senate of Pakistan Yusuf Raza Gilani
The Federation Council Speaker said that Yusuf Raza Gilani made a meaningful contribution to strengthening bilateral relations, including as Pakistan’s Prime Minister and by heading the parliamentary friendship group with Russia. She also noted his positive role in promoting cooperation within the SCO.
Valentina Matvienko invited the Chairman of Pakistan’s Senate to pay an official visit to Russia in 2025.
The two speakers reaffirmed their shared commitment to bringing the bilateral inter-parliamentary ties to a new level and to coordinating their efforts at international platforms, including the Inter-Parliamentary Union and the Asian Parliamentary Assembly.
The Federation Council Speaker visited the Pakistan Senate Museum and signed its Guest Book.
The Russian delegation at the meeting also included Deputy Speaker of the Federation Council Konstantin Kosachev, First Deputy Chair of the Federation Council Committee on Foreign Affairs Andrey Denisov, First Deputy Chair of the Federation Council Committee on Defence and Security and Head of the Group on Cooperation between the Federation Council and the Senate of Pakistan Vladimir Chizhov, Deputy Chair of the Federation Council Committee on Science, Education and Culture Lyudmila Skakovskaya, Deputy Chair of the Federation Council Committee on the Budget and Financial Markets Mukharby Ulbashev, and Deputy Chair of the Federation Council Committee on Economic Policy and member of the Group on Cooperation between the Federation Council and the Senate of Pakistan Yury Fedorov.