Valentina Matvienko: MPs Should Support Commitment of Russia and Belarus to Increase Bilateral Cooperation

On 5 March, a joint meeting of the Organizing committees of the VII Forum of Russian and Belarusian Regions took place in Minsk. The event was attended by Speaker of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, Chairperson of the IPA CIS Council Valentina Matvienko and Speaker of the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus, member of the IPA CIS Council Natalia Kochanova.

Speaking at the opening of the meeting, Valentina Matvienko noted that it had become an important platform for strengthening of the Russian-Belarusian cooperation, which provided for building long-term mutually beneficial relations between the regions. Over 300 cooperation agreements worth about $2 billion have been signed for the past 6 years – and the business ties are getting stronger every year.

Valentina Matvienko supported the initiative of the Belarusian side to dedicate the upcoming VII Forum of Russian and Belarusian Regions to historical heritage of the Victory and its significance for the development of social, economic, and spiritual links of the peoples of the two countries.

Speaker of the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus Natalia Kochanova described the Forum as one of the most efficient mechanisms for inter-parliamentary cooperation between the Federation Council and the Council of the Republic. According to the Speaker, the Forum has become a prospective platform for fruitful deliberations, exchange of opinions and getting feedback from the regions of both countries.

During a bilateral meeting, the speakers noted the high engagement of both countries, both at the level of the heads of state and among the Russian and Belarusian parliamentarians, emphasized the importance of enhancing interaction, including within the framework of the parliamentary institutions, such as the IPA CIS, PA CSTO, etc.

Valentina Matvienko also held a meeting with Speaker of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus Vladimir Andreychenko in Minsk.