Expansion of Russia’s ties with African states, including parliamentary relations, is one of the country’s priorities. This was stated by Head of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation Valentina Matvienko at a meeting with Speaker of the National Assembly of South Africa Angela Thokozile Didiza in Geneva. Her words are transmitted by the
press service of the upper house of the Russian parliament.

Matvienko emphasised that the authority of South Africa in the international arena is growing every year. She also noted that Russia actively cooperates with the republic in the Group of Twenty (G20), the UN, and BRICS.

“South Africa’s chairmanship of the G20 this year is a very important event to which we attach great importance and see it as a good opportunity to strengthen the role of the Global South in the world economy, to ‘highlight’ the nomination of the African continent as one of the centres of the multi-polar world”

Valentina Matvienko
Head of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation

For her part, Didiza noted the important role of inter-parliamentary cooperation in relations between Russia and South Africa. According to her, the South African leadership highly values ties with Moscow.

The Speaker of the National Assembly of South Africa also highlighted the high influence of BRICS in the world. She added that this association should be further strengthened to remain as influential.

Photo:
Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation