Russian Federation Council Speaker Meets with Chairs of Committees on International Affairs of BRICS Parliaments

Russian Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matvienko held a meeting with the chairs of committees on international affairs of BRICS parliaments (chambers of parliaments) on 11 April.

V.Matvienko said that this format of communication provides an opportunity for a substantive discussion of issues concerning parliamentary interaction within the association, which Russia is chairing this year. She noted that the 10th BRICS Parliamentary Forum will be held in July in St. Petersburg under the motto ‘The Role of Parliaments in Strengthening Multilateralism for Fair Global Development and Security’.

Matvienko also called on parliamentarians to contribute to preparations for the main event of Russia’s Chairship – the BRICS Summit, which will take place in Kazan in October. “The decisions taken at the summit must have reliable legislative support,” she said.

The Federation Council Speaker expressed confidence that the BRICS countries have everything they need to become a solid foundation for a truly democratic and fair world order. She emphasized that BRICS expansion is the best demonstration of the association’s authority in the international arena and its broad capabilities to influence global decision-making. “Dozens of countries are allies of the association, which today speaks for the interests of the Global Majority,” she said. Over the last 15 years, BRICS has become a successful example of interstate cooperation and has developed a strong tradition of equal dialogue, in which mutual respect and the obligatory consideration of each other’s interests play a key role, she said. There is no place in the association for dominance, the desire to impose its will on others, or to be friends against someone, she said.

BRICS countries have everything they need to become a solid foundation for a new, truly democratic, and fair world order that is based on international law, while observing the key principles of the UN Charter, she said. She focused on promoting partnership-based cooperation in three key areas: politics and security, economics and finance, and cultural and humanitarian contacts.

V.Matvienko said it would be required to jointly assess the progress of the Strategy for BRICS Economic Partnership 2025. “One of the most important priorities should be ensuring energy and food security and increasing the role of BRICS in the international monetary and financial system,” she said.

“The development of the BRICS parliamentary dimension is something that is fully consistent with the spirit of the times and the essence of parliamentary diplomacy as a dialogue between representatives of the people,” she said.

Matvienko believes enhancing the coordination of joint efforts at international parliamentary platforms should also be on the agenda. In particular, BRICS partners could engage in more effective interaction as part of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, she said.

She also cited terrorism as a serious threat that requires collective action. V.Matvienko thanked the BRICS representatives for their solidarity, words of sympathy, and support in light of the recent terrorist attack at Crocus City Hall.

Matvienko drew special attention to how the countries of the collective West are attempting to revamp the architecture of international cooperation. “The practice of applying sanctions against the members of national parliaments and creating obstacles to the participation of parliamentary delegations in the work of international associations continues to cause serious concern,” she said.

The Federation Council Speaker emphasized that the power of parliamentary cooperation makes it possible to involve representatives of BRICS science, business, and civil society in the process of discussing and adopting common decisions. She said it would be beneficial to have regular interparliamentary and expert consultations, develop joint programmes, and coordinate legislative activities in order to ratify agreements signed by BRICS countries.

V.Matvienko also cited the promotion of collaboration in high technologies, healthcare, ecology, culture, sports, youth exchanges, and civil society as key priorities of cooperation with BRICS countries. “In order to jointly implement scientific and technical projects, it is essential to create a common technological space. This also involves the convergence of legal norms. And the sooner legislators formulate a legal framework, the faster scientists from our countries will achieve a new level of interaction,” she said

Parliamentarians need to pay special attention to regulating such issues as artificial intelligence, she said. “This is a promising area that enhances the efficiency of our work in various areas. At the same time, though, issues concerning the use of artificial intelligence need to be resolved at the level of BRICS countries, on the UN platform,” she said.

Matvienko expressed hope that the current meeting will be an important step towards the institutionalization of the BRICS parliamentary dimension.

Head of the Federation Council’s Committee on International Affairs Grigory Karasin noted that the BRICS countries are actively developing relations. He said today’s meeting would become a key component in preparations for the 10th BRICS Parliamentary Forum. The senator spoke about the meetings that parliamentarians held with Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov and State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin.

Lou Qinjian, chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of China’s National People’s Congress, stressed that China advocates strengthening trust and expanding cooperation, developing inclusive economic globalization, and deepening coordination within the BRICS framework.

Supra Mahumapelo, chairman of the South African Parliament’s Committee on International Relations and Cooperation, noted that his country is committed to the principles of BRICS and is pursuing the goal of strengthening cooperation.

Karim Darwish, chairman of the International Affairs Committee of the Egyptian Parliament’s House of Representatives, noted that numerous countries are interested in participating in BRICS, since the association provides an opportunity to achieve balance around the world.

The meeting was also attended by Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council Konstantin Kosachev, Russian Senators Vladimir Dzhabarov, Andrey Denisov, and Sergey Kislyak, Chairman of the State Duma’s Committee on International Affairs Leonid Slutsky, as well as parliamentarians and diplomatic representatives from BRICS countries.

The Roscongress Foundation manages the events of Russia’s BRICS chairship.