The Federation Council Speaker is satisfied with the results of the Russian delegation’s three-day visit to Ethiopia.
On the final day of the visit to Addis Ababa, Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matvienko was received by President of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia Taye Atske Selassie. The Federation Council Speaker briefed him on the results of her talks with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali, Speaker of the House of Federation Agegnehu Teshager and Speaker of the House of Peoples’ Representatives Tagesse Chafo.
Valentina Matvienko noted that the visit was a success, concrete agreements had been reached, and the Ethiopian colleagues reaffirmed their interest in joint development at the level of parliaments and in trade and economic cooperation. “We are working closely together with the Ethiopian Parliament to improve the legal framework of cooperation between our countries. We have a group on cooperation with Ethiopia’s House of Federation,” she said.
Valentina Matvienko also pointed out effective interaction with Ethiopian colleagues within the Inter-Parliamentary Union and BRICS. “Russia wholeheartedly supported Ethiopia’s accession to BRICS. We are aware of the enthusiasm and constructive mood of our Ethiopian partners. Your country is making a significant contribution to the group’s operations, helping its members take a fresh look at the African continent. BRICS has acquired a new, dynamic and active member,” the Speaker noted. She added that Russia valued the independent line of Addis Ababa on the international stage, where the two countries’ stance on the majority of current issues coincides or is similar.
The Federation Council Speaker emphasised Moscow’s interest in building up trade and economic cooperation, which has considerable potential, in particular in agriculture, renewable sources of energy, mining, information and communication technology, as well as tourism. “Affordable and frequently modernised energy infrastructure, plus young and skilled workers are the basis of Ethiopia’s investment attractiveness,” she noted.
She also said that Russia puts a high value on cooperation in the training of skilled personnel necessary for the further development of Ethiopia’s economy.
Valentina Matvienko remarked that delegates from 14 ministries and agencies, including Co-chair of the Intergovernmental Russian-Ethiopian Commission on Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation and Trade Maxim Reshetnikov and Healthcare Minister Mikhail Murashko, had come to Addis Ababa to confirm old agreements and discuss new ones.
President of Ethiopia Taye Atske Selassie assured the Federation Council Speaker that the line for closer interaction with Russia on a broad range of issues would be continued and stepped up.
The Federation Council delegation that was in Ethiopia for a three-day visit included Deputy Speaker Konstantin Kosachev, Chair of the Federation Council Committee on Science, Education and Culture Lilia Gumerova, Chair of the Federation Council Committee on Agriculture and Food Policy and Environmental Management Alexander Dvoinykh, Chair of the Federation Council Committee on Economic Policy Andrey Kutepov, First Deputy Chair of the Federation Council Committee on Constitutional Legislation and State Building and head of the group for cooperation between the Federation Council and the House of Federation of Ethiopia Nikolay Vladimirov, First Deputy Chair of the Federation Council Committee on Social Policy Zhanna Chefanova, as well as member of the Federation Council Committee on Federal Structure, Regional Policy, Local Government and Northern Affairs and member of the group for cooperation Alexander Voloshin.
In conclusion of the visit, Valentina Matvienko and Speaker of the House of Federation Agegnehu Teshager visited the National Palace Museum, where she signed the book of honorary visitors, writing that the exhibition was proof of the Ethiopian leaders’ caring attitude to the historical traditions of statehood and cultural heritage of Ethiopia. “It adds to my pleasure that some exhibits are evidence of the age-old bonds of friendship between Russia and Ethiopia. Our countries share respect for their history and for building up mutually beneficial cooperation. These bonds continue to inspire us to further develop our interparliamentary dialogue, strengthen trust and mutual understanding, and to advance together,” she wrote.