The Federation Council Speaker took part in the Russia-Armenia Interregional Forum in Yerevan.
Speaker of the Federation Council, Valentina Matvienko, shared her remarks at the plenary session of the 10th Russia-Armenia Interregional Forum in Yerevan as part of an official visit by a delegation of the Russian parliament’s upper chamber to Armenia. Speaker of Armenia’s National Assembly Alen Simonyan also took the floor to welcome the forum’s participants.
In her remarks, the Federation Council Speaker described the initiative to hold this forum as a good tradition. “This demonstrates that this format is relevant and effective in terms of promoting our bilateral relations, including economic, investment, people-to-people, educational and cultural ties. Since its inception, this forum has emerged as a prominent platform for facilitating direct dialogue between Russia and Armenia and an effective aspect of our multifaceted cooperation,” she said.
Valentina Matvienko stressed that this forum has offered a framework for nurturing new projects, forging closer business ties and devising solutions to address shared challenges. “Being able to get to know each other and communicate face-to-face, as well as networking opportunities facilitate our shared progress,” she added.
The Speaker went on to say that Russia and Armenia are allies. They have a shared past, cultural and spiritual values, and both nations are committed to ensuring sustainable development and achieving prosperity. “Mutual respect and a win-win mindset underpin our cooperation. Armenia is a sovereign state and is free to take the decisions it deems fit. As for the ties between Russia and Armenia, they have intrinsic value for our two countries,” she pointed out.
“Trade and economic ties have been enjoying upward momentum lately, judging by last year’s results. Moreover, our countries carry out almost all their settlements and transactions in national currencies, which has a great cumulative effect. Russia is also one of the main investors in the Armenian economy with the accumulated Russian investment exceeding $4 billion,” she pointed out.
The Federation Council Speaker believes that in keeping with the Russian law, the country’s regions have considerable potential for working with their foreign partners, promoting import substitution and cooperation in manufacturing and agriculture, as well as joining efforts to gain a foothold in new markets. “Moscow, St Petersburg, the Moscow, Rostov, Nizhny Novgorod, Volgograd regions, as well as North Ossetia – Alania, Tatarstan, Krasnodar and Stavropol territories have been on the forefront of these efforts among Russian regions. Small cities have also generated positive momentum in building closer ties, which is also a welcome development,” she said.
Valentina Matvienko described forging stronger ties among SMEs as another promising track.
The Federation Council Speaker talked about the importance of the Intergovernmental Programme for Promoting Region-to-Region Cooperation in 2022−2027 and the fact that it offered a system-wide approach to undertaking joint projects. “This programme de facto operates as the main mechanism for enabling regions to work together. So far, there are 15 accomplished initiatives and another 40 are being implemented,” she noted.
The Federation Council Speaker paid special attention to cooperation in the tourism sector. “Apart from its economic component, this sector is instrumental for reinforcing friendship, mutual understanding and trust between our nations. Efforts to promote people-to-people ties have a direct bearing on interstate relations,” she argued, adding that Russia is ready to welcome medical tourists. “We can perform advanced surgeries on patients young and old and have cutting-edge medical solutions,” she pointed out.
“Region-to-region ties serve as a foundation for keeping our cooperation alive even in the most challenging times. We stand ready to promote region-to-region, business-to-business ties, as well as civil society initiatives,” Valentina Matvienko said.
During the plenary session, Governor of the Arkhangelsk Region Alexander Tsybulsky talked about efforts to forge closer ties with Armenia. He said that they have become part of a long-standing policy to promote and develop integration across the Eurasian space.
Governor of the Irkutsk Region Igor Kobzev reminded the audience that his region hosted the 37th meeting of the Interparliamentary Commission for Cooperation between the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation and the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia, which paved the way for signing cooperation agreements in trade, the economy, research and technology, cultural and humanitarian affairs. “We are interested in consolidating the structure of our foreign trade operations in terms of exporting high added-value products from the region and increasing agricultural imports,” he said.
Governor of the Shirak Province Davit Arushanyan and Governor of the Gegharkunik Province Karen Sargsyan contributed to the conversation on region-to-region ties on behalf of Armenia.
The plenary session also included a ceremony during which heads of several Russian and Armenia regions exchanged various documents. In particular, the Government of the Arkhangelsk Region and the Administration of the Vayots Dzor Province exchanged a Plan of Action to carry out an agreement to promote cooperation in trade, the economy, research and technology, as well as humanitarian cooperation in 2025−2027. There was also an agreement between the Rostov Region’s Government and the Ararat Province’s administration.
Participants in the forum included Governor of the Stavropol Territory Vladimir Vladimirov, Governor of the Krasnodar Territory Veniamin Kondratyev, and Acting Governor of the Rostov Region Yury Slyusar.