The Federation Council Speaker had a meeting with the Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of China in Geneva.
Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matvienko had a meeting with Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of China Zhao Leji to discuss interparliamentary cooperation. The conversation took place on the sidelines of the 6th World Conference of Speakers of Parliament in Geneva.
The Federation Council Speaker started the conversation by expressing condolences in connection with the Beijing flood. “There are victims and injured people. Please accept our sincere condolences and our wishes for the speediest recovery for those affected by the flood.”
According to the Federation Council Speaker, relations between Russia and China, under the guidance of their leaders, have been generating steady momentum and fully align with the nature of their comprehensive partnership and strategic cooperation.
The Federation Council Speaker emphasised that this year is special: both countries are marking the 80th anniversary of the Great Victory, Russia in the Great Patriotic War, and China in the fight against militarist Japan. “Chinese President Xi Jinping was the chief guest at the events marking the 80th anniversary of Victory, at the Red Square parade. President of Russia Vladimir Putin will travel to the PRC to participate in events honouring the heroic feat of the Chinese people.”
Valentina Matvienko stressed that Russian-Chinese relations play a significant role and constitute a factor of stability in the world. “The meetings of our countries’ leaders and their positions on the current agenda are always heeded in the world and these messages are taken into account.”
The Federation Council Speaker added that parliamentary cooperation has become an important component of Russian-Chinese interstate relations. “The heads of state fully support the expansion of parliamentary ties and region-to-region cooperation. This produces a cumulative effect. The years 2025 and 2026 are rich in parliamentary activities. We will continue to do everything possible to fulfil the agreements reached at the highest level.”
In his remarks, Zhao Leji reminded those present of his visit to Russia last year. “Russia and the PRC are major neighbouring states and partners. We regard our relations with Russia as a foreign policy priority for China. Under the strategic leadership of Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin our relations are developing and have reached a high level; we are steadily strengthening our mutual political trust, our practical cooperation is being given new content and our coordination in the world arena is expanding.”
The Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of China described the relations between the two countries as mature, resilient and stable. “This not only promotes both countries’ development and prosperity, but also helps to uphold justice and equality on the global stage.”
Valentina Matvienko noted that the friendship between the peoples of Russia and China continues to develop on the basis of strategic trust and the aspiration to build a multilateral world order with greater justice for all. She said that Moscow and Beijing work closely together on the world stage and efficiently coordinate their activities at BRICS, the SCO and the G20.
The Federation Council Speaker expressed her gratitude to her Chinese colleagues for their constructive interaction in the Inter-Parliamentary Union, particularly in the context of the potential establishment of a new BRICS+ geopolitical group within this platform.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Speaker Konstantin Kosachev and First Deputy Chair of the Federation Council Committee on Foreign Affairs Andrey Denisov.