The Federation Council Speaker said that Russian parliamentarians were determined to resume close cooperation with the Venezuelan parliament.
Speaker of the Federation Council Valentina Matvienko held a meeting with President of the National Assembly of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela Jorge Jesús Rodríguez Gómez. The main topic of their conversation was interparliamentary interaction and interregional cooperation.
The Federation Council Speaker noted the rich programme of the Venezuelan delegation's visit to Russia and thanked them for their active participation in the Russia — Latin America international parliamentary conference.
According to Valentina Matvienko, Russia and Venezuela have accumulated a considerable record of beneficial and fruitful cooperation, which is based on friendship and mutual respect. ”The relations became especially strong during the years of Hugo Chavez's presidency. Based on the results achieved, we continue to actively cooperate in all areas. In the current difficult time of international turbulence, we especially appreciate the balanced position of Venezuela, our reliable partner in Latin America.“
Valentina Matvienko stressed that Russian and Venezuelan presidents Vladimir Putin and Nicolás Maduro have established trustful relations and are defining the areas of cooperation between the two countries.
Jorge Rodríguez Gómez noted the high level of Russian-Venezuelan relations. ”Venezuela remains a friend and partner of Russia. Our alliance and common interests, including in the energy sector, are the key to the further development of our countries.“
The Federation Council Speaker said that Russian parliamentarians were determined to resume close cooperation with the Venezuelan parliament. In her opinion, the visit to the Russian Federation contributes to this, which shows the Venezuelan side's willingness to expand inter-parliamentary cooperation. Valentina Matvienko proposed holding a joint meeting of the groups on cooperation between the Federation Council and the National Assembly of Venezuela in the videoconference format and outlining a roadmap for further actions by the lawmakers.
The participants in the meeting stressed the inadmissibility of imposing unilateral sanctions against any country. Valentina Matvienko believes that amid sanctions against Russia and Venezuela, the parliamentarians are called upon to promote the whole range of Russian-Venezuelan cooperation. ”Above all, it is necessary to increase and diversify bilateral trade on a basis resistant to the negative impact of Western sanctions,“ the Federation Council Speaker said.
Valentina Matvienko named cooperation between regions among the tools for increasing bilateral ties. The Federation Council Speaker noted the dynamically developing contacts between Volgograd and Venezuelan Valencia in the cultural and humanitarian sphere. ”We support the expansion of contacts between the states of Venezuela and the regions of the Russian Federation.“
They also touched upon the development of financial and transport infrastructure, including expansion of regular air services.
Valentina Matvienko noted the interest of Venezuelan young people in studying at Russian universities. ”In this regard, the quota of scholarships for Venezuela for the 2023/24 academic year was increased from 100 to 200 students.“
The meeting was attended by Chair of the Federation Council Committee on Foreign Affairs Grigory Karasin, head of the group on cooperation with parliaments of Latin American countries, Chair of the Federation Council Committee on Constitutional Legislation and State Building Andrey Klishas, Chair of the Federation Council Committee on Federal Structure, Regional Policy, Local Government and Northern Affairs Andrei Shevchenko, head of the group on cooperation with the National Assembly of Venezuela, Deputy Chair of the Federation Council Committee on Economic Policy Yury Fedorov, Deputy Chair of the Federation Council Committee on Science, Education and Culture Lyudmila Skakovskaya, member of the Federation Council Committee on the Budget and Financial Markets Dina Oyun and member of the Federation Council Committee on Social Policy Andrey Chernyshev.