Speaker of the Federation Council held a strategic session on BRICS development prospects as part of the Fourth Eurasian Women’s Forum.
Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matvienko chaired a strategic session, The Future of BRICS: Cooperation Prospects, during the Fourth Eurasian Women’s Forum.
The Speaker noted that the BRICS Women’s Forum is a key event of the Eurasian Women’s Forum and the Russian BRICS Chairmanship. “It is a historic moment in developing the women’s dimension of our countries’ cooperation. Right now, we are building a unique platform to unite BRICS women for continuous dialogue.”
Valentina Matvienko pointed out that BRICS had come a long way, the share of its members now accounting for 36 percent of the world’s GDP and 46 percent of the world’s population. “I am confident that the power and influence of this association will continue to grow. Thirty-four more states have expressed interest in joining the BRICS format.”
BRICS appeals to a broad range of potential participants mainly because cooperation in this association is based on respecting sovereign equality, openness and mutual consideration for each other’s interests. “As President of Russia Vladimir Putin stressed, the main objective of the Russian BRICS Chairmanship this year is to create the most favourable conditions for the consistent development of all members. I am certain that the initiatives by the female heads of BRICS states can contribute to achieving the association’s goals.”
Valentina Matvienko noted that the women’s community of BRICS has created several effective cooperation formats, including the BRICS Women’s Business Alliance, the BRICS Civil Forum, and a dialogue under the BRICS Parliamentary Forum. “The Protocol to the Memorandum of Understanding on the BRICS Parliamentary Forum specifically emphasises the importance of adequate representation of female parliament members in official delegations during the forum’s meetings and other events,” she added.
The Federation Council Speaker stressed that the BRICS Women’s Forum can and must become a platform that is convenient to everybody, to coordinate the key partnership vectors, and to develop business contacts and friendly ties. “The agenda of the Women’s Forum is quite busy, centred on food security, women’s contribution to energy transition, and other topical issues.”
“We will submit the proposals that come out of the discussion, to the 16th BRICS Summit which starts in Kazan next month. I have no doubt they will be reflected in the summit’s final documents,” Valentina Matvienko said.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister and Russian BRICS Sherpa Sergey Ryabkov spoke about the priorities of the Russian BRICS Chairmanship. He said that the Eurasian Women’s Forum has proven to be one of the most impactful platforms for developing and strengthening humanitarian cooperation. “The role of women in international affairs and in the economic and social life of all states is steadily growing. This is an objective trend that requires new formats of dialogue. We welcome the fact that the BRICS Women’s Forum was held for the first time during the Russian Chairmanship. We take every effort to make sure that the voice of the Global Majority sounds louder amidst the rapidly emerging multipolar system.”
Russian Minister of Labour and Social Protection Anton Kotyakov noted that the Russian BRICS Chairmanship’s motto is “Strengthening multilateral cooperation for global development and security.”
“These steps forward are impossible without women’s active involvement in the economy, social sphere, culture and administration,” he stressed.
Anton Kotyakov also pointed out how important it is to expand employment opportunities for women. “The state and society in Russia are focused on creating conditions for women to be able to balance family and career. The National Strategy in the Interests of Women Until 2030 has the same goal.” He noted women’s broad involvement in the Russian economy as they account for 49 percent of the employed population.
Foreign Minister of North Korea Choe Son-hui expressed solidarity with all countries and organisations that build relations on mutual trust, including BRICS.
Maria Afonina, Coordinator of the Female Leader Project of the Eurasian Women’s Forum, presented a new educational programme for BRICS women.
Lebogang Zulu, President of the African Women’s Foundation, Gui Jieni, Secretary General of the Beijing International Exchange Association, and Samin Dot Shirvaniarani, Director of Scientific and International Cooperation at the Nuclear Science and Technology Research Institute (NSTRI) of the Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran (AEOI), and Dharitri Patnaik, Chairperson of Diversified Energy Solutions Private Limited also addressed the plenary session.