Federation Council Speaker met with Chairperson of South African Parliament’s National Council of Provinces.
Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matvienko held a meeting with Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces of the Parliament of the Republic of South Africa, Refilwe Maria Mtsweni-Tsipane, to discuss the development of interparliamentary cooperation between the two countries.
During the meeting, Valentina Matvienko stated that the visit of the South African parliamentary delegation to Russia demonstrates the friendly nature of bilateral interparliamentary relations and reflects the positive momentum in overall Russia –South Africa ties. “I am confident that the visit will contribute to enhancing mutually beneficial cooperation across the board,” she said.
The Federation Council Speaker emphasised that South Africa has long been a reliable and trusted partner of Russia, with relations dating back to the period of the struggle against the apartheid regime. “Regular contacts between presidents Vladimir Putin and Cyril Ramaphosa reaffirm both countries’ commitment to further developing their comprehensive strategic partnership,” Valentina Matvienko noted. She pointed out that this September will mark the 20th anniversary of the Treaty of Friendship and Partnership signed between Russia and South Africa.
For her part, Refilwe Maria Mtsweni-Tsipane described relations between South Africa and Russia as historic, and stressed that the current period presents a valuable opportunity to deepen cooperation between the two countries, including through parliamentary engagement. “South Africa is keen to attract Russian investment. We will make efforts to further expand our mutually beneficial cooperation,” she stressed.
Addressing the further development of interparliamentary ties, Valentina Matvienko highlighted the role of the Federation Council’s group on cooperation with the National Council of Provinces of the Parliament of South Africa, led by Andrey Kutepov, Chair of the Federation Council Committee on Economic Policy. She also proposed expanding interaction between the two countries’ relevant parliamentary committees through videoconferencing, and suggested establishing contacts between young South African parliamentarians and the Federation Council’s Chamber of Young Legislators.
The discussion also focused on strengthening interregional cooperation. “Exchanges between regional delegations continue to expand, with South African delegations visiting Moscow, St Petersburg, and Petrozavodsk last year, while Russian delegations travelled to Johannesburg. We will continue to actively support the development of these regional partnerships,” Valentina Matvienko emphasised.
The Federation Council Speaker also highlighted the close cooperation between Russian and South African parliamentarians within international organisations, including the Inter-Parliamentary Union and BRICS. She noted that South African representatives are welcome guests at international events hosted by Russia.
Valentina Matvienko recalled that Refilwe Maria Mtsweni-Tsipane, shortly after her election as Chairperson of the upper house of the Parliament of South Africa, attended the 10th BRICS Parliamentary Forum in St Petersburg in July 2024. The Federation Council Speaker also praised the professional achievements and public service of the leader of the South African Parliament’s National Council of Provinces. “You became the first woman to lead your home province of Mpumalanga, which is an inspiring example for women both in South Africa and across the African continent. You also consistently advocate for combating domestic violence, promoting gender equality, improving the socioeconomic status of women, and supporting female entrepreneurship,” the Federation Council Speaker noted.
The meeting was also attended by Deputy Speaker of the Federation Council Konstantin Kosachev; Chair of the Federation Council Committee on Foreign Affairs Grigory Karasin; Chair of the Federation Council Committee on Economic Policy Andrey Kutepov; First Deputy Chair of the Committee on Foreign Affairs Vladimir Dzhabarov; and Deputy Chair of the Federation Council Committee on Science, Education and Culture Lyudmila Skakovskaya.