The Federation Council Speaker met with the Speaker of the Council of Representatives of the National Assembly of Bahrain.
Valentina Matvienko held a meeting with Speaker of the Council of Representatives of the National Assembly of the Kingdom of Bahrain Ahmed bin Salman Al-Musallam on the sidelines of the 150th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union in Tashkent.
Mindful of the upcoming 35th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Russia and Bahrain, the speakers expressed satisfaction with advances in Russian-Bahraini interaction, which is actively promoted by the heads of state of both countries. “We set a great store by the trust-based and constructive dialogue with our Bahraini colleagues on current global and regional issues. Our positions on most international matters are close or identical, something that creates a firm basis for collaboration and coordination at international venues,” Valentina Matvienko said.
According to Ms Matvienko, parliamentary interaction is making good progress as well. She asked her Bahraini counterpart to convey greetings to Chairman of the Consultative Council of the National Assembly of Bahrain Ali bin Saleh Al Saleh, whose visit to Russia is expected this summer. In April, a delegation of the Federation Council’s Group for Cooperation with the Consultative Council of the National Assembly of the Kingdom of Bahrain led by its head, Senator Mokhmad Akhmadov, will pay a working visit to Manama.
The parties discussed possibilities for intensifying trade and economic ties. According to Valentina Matvienko, their potential is much higher than current indicators. “We expect a representative delegation from Bahrain to attend the St Petersburg International Economic Forum. This year, Bahrain will participate in the forum as a guest country, something that will facilitate the development of economic ties.”
She added that Russia would be glad to see a Bahraini delegation at the 11th Nevsky International Environmental Congress in St Petersburg.
The speakers noted the existence of a high potential for cooperation in education, tourist exchanges, and youth contacts.
Valentina Matvienko said that representatives of the Federation Council’s Chamber of Young Lawmakers would visit Bahrain in early April to establish contacts with their colleagues. “This is a very promising and important line in our parliamentary work and we must support it,” she said.
Mr Ahmed bin Salman Al-Musallam conveyed to Valentina Matvienko heart-felt greetings from King of Bahrain Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. “We set a great store by good relations with Russia. We are seeking to develop and strengthen both political and economic components of these relations,” he said.
Valentina Matvienko also asked her counterpart to convey greetings to His Majesty the King. “I keep the warm memories of my meeting with His Majesty the King and his address to the Federation Council,” she said.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Speaker of the Federation Council Konstantin Kosachev and Deputy Speaker of the State Duma Pyotr Tolstoy.