Vyacheslav Volodin: Russia and Guinea-Bissau should find new formats of cooperation
Chairman of the State Duma is convinced that inter-parliamentary cooperation will give new impetus to development of bilateral relations
On Monday, March 20, the Chairman of the State Duma Vyacheslav Volodin
Vyacheslav Victorovich
The Chairman of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation of the eighth convocation. Elected in single mandate constituency № 163 (Saratov constituency - Saratov Oblast)
held a meeting with the President
of the National People’s Assembly of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau Cipriano
Cassamá.
The meeting was held on the sidelines of the Second International Parliamentary Conference “Russia – Africa”.
Vyacheslav Volodin expressed gratitude to Cipriano Cassamá for coming to Russia and taking part in the Conference.
“That is our first meeting for the first time after a long break and we would like this communication [to] be more often. We have a lot of issues to discuss. Time does not stand still. It would be right to develop decisions to address modern challenges, to find new formats of cooperation, to develop relations. We set such a task within the framework of our Conference,” said the Chairman of the State Duma.
According to Cipriano Cassamá, the invitation to take part in the Conference and visit the State Duma is a great honor for his delegation. “Russia has always been a big, great partner of Guinea-Bissau. We will not forget what Russia has done for our country, for our independence. In the most difficult moments, the Soviet Union had always helped Guinea-Bissau, and now Russia continue to help us. We are interested in further cooperation and want it to reach a new level,” added Cipriano Cassamá.
According to the President of the National People's Assembly of the Republic, Russia has a great industrial and technological potential.
“Yesterday I told my colleagues, heads of parliaments: “We should not continue to follow only Europe, the West as example, we should start working with Russia,” he added. Cipriano Cassamá said that upon his return to Guinea-Bissau, he would prepare an appeal to the Chairman of the State Duma with a request to create a friendship group between the parliaments of the two countries.
The Chairman of the State Duma supported the proposal. He added that the Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Sergey Neverov
Sergey Ivanovich
would be the Co-Chair of the friendship group. “Then,
taking into account the wishes, it will include those parliamentarians who will
professionally discuss with you key issues and the proposed agenda,” said Vyacheslav
Volodin.
The Chairman of the State Duma also proposed to sign an agreement with his colleague from Guinea-Bissau on cooperation between the parliaments of the two countries and create a relevant commission to resolve issues of concern, including with the participation of government structures. “Your visit will give new impetus to the development of bilateral relations. For our part, we will do everything to ensure that the issues that you have raised will be considered,” stressed Vyacheslav Volodin.
The President of the National People's Assembly of Guinea-Bissau also asked to convey greetings to Russian President Vladimir Putin. According to the parliamentarian, he is the person who united Russia, and the politician, “we all should aspire to becoming.” The Chairman of the State Duma said that there was the same view in Russia: Vladimir Putin is a national leader, who has united the nation.
“Despite challenges, sanctions, attempts to halt Russia’s development, you can see that our country is still developing, the political system ensures stability. Definitely, an important factor in countering sanctions is the consolidation of society around the President, support of all parliamentary factions,” stressed Vyacheslav Volodin.
“We had the courage to come here, and we have the courage to state that Russia is a fraternal country and nation. I am ready to say in any country I go to and in any community I will communicate with that we should cooperate with Russia,” said Cipriano Cassamá.
On 19–20 March 2023, the State Duma hosts the Second International Parliamentary Conference “Russia – Africa” in Moscow.
More than 40 official parliamentary delegations from almost all African countries take part in the Conference. Representatives of the scientific, educational and expert communities from Russia and African countries, members of the State Duma, federal executive authorities, senators of the Federation Council, chairmen of the legislative bodies of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation, representatives of the business community also take part in the events of the Conference.
The objectives of the Conference are to strengthen parliamentary cooperation with African countries in the conditions of formation of a multipolar world, to develop relations and develop common approaches to legal regulation in the economy, science and education and security.
On March 19, on the first day of the Conference, there were held the following round tables:
- Parliamentary Support of Scientific and Educational Cooperation
- Legislative Response to Economic Challenges
- Indivisible Security: Capabilities and Contributions of Parliaments
- Neocolonialism of the West: How to Prevent the Repetition of History.
On March 19, there was also held a business breakfast with participation of the parliamentary delegations of African states and Russian business representatives.
On March 20, there will be held a plenary session of the International Parliamentary Conference entitled “Russia-Africa in the multipolar world”.
As part of the events of the Conference, the Chairman of the State Duma Vyacheslav Volodin hold bilateral meetings with several heads of delegations, speakers of parliaments and chambers of parliaments of African countries.
The Conference is planned to be held just few months before the Second Russia-Africa Summit, which is planned to be held on July 2023 in Saint Petersburg.
The First International Conference “Russia – Africa” was held in Moscow in 2019.
