Events

Valentina Matvienko: The upcoming Russia-Africa summit this autumn will become a powerful impetus for deepening cooperation, including with Mozambique

The Federation Council Speaker discussed prospects for interparliamentary cooperation with President of the National Assembly of the Republic of Mozambique.


Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matvienko held a meeting with President of the National Assembly of the Republic of Mozambique Margarida Adamugi Talapa.

The Federation Council Speaker noted that the visit of Margarida Adamugi Talapa to Russia was her first official visit outside the African continent since her election as Speaker. “In 2025, you were actively involved in the work of the 11th Nevsky International Ecological Congress. Your current visit demonstrates the friendly nature of our interparliamentary ties and reflects the positive momentum in the development of bilateral relations across a wide range of areas. I am confident it will provide an additional impetus to cooperation and to the overall relations,” Valentina Matvienko said.

She emphasised that Russia’s friendship and cooperation with Mozambique have a long history, dating back to the Mozambican people’s struggle against colonialism. “At that time, the Soviet Union made a significant contribution to Mozambique’s independence, the establishment of its statehood and the strengthening of its economic and defence capacity. We appreciate that this assistance is still remembered in Mozambique,” she added.

Meeting between Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matvienko and President of the National Assembly of the Republic of Mozambique Margarida Adamugi Talapa

Margarida Adamugi Talapa said that the visit would help deepen relations both between the two parliaments and more broadly between the countries and their peoples.

She also thanked the Russian side for its support in response to natural disasters in Mozambique.

The two sides noted the high level of trust in political dialogue at the highest level. Valentina Matvienko recalled that Mozambique has traditionally taken an active part in Russia-Africa summits. “The third summit will be held in Moscow this autumn. I am confident it will provide a powerful impetus for advancing and deepening cooperation between Russia and African countries, including Mozambique,” she said. She added that parliamentarians intend to support the implementation of agreements reached to further expand cooperation.

Speaking of interparliamentary cooperation, Valentina Matvienko that it is developing in a spirit of mutual respect, trust and continuity. She recalled the Cooperation Agreement signed in 2022 between the Federation Council and the National Assembly of Mozambique. “Parliamentary friendship groups are an effective mechanism. On the Russian side, the group is headed by Senator Mukharby Ulbashev.

The discussion also covered cooperation in the international arena. “The Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation holds observer status in the African Parliamentary Union. This provides an additional effective channel for interparliamentary communication,” the Federation Council Speaker stressed.

She called for closer contacts between specialized committees to facilitate the exchange of legislative experience, as well as for expanding ties between young legislators.

During the conversation, Valentina Matvienko drew special attention to the prospects for developing Russian-Mozambican interregional cooperation.

The parties discussed further strengthening the bilateral legal and treaty framework.

The conversation was attended by Deputy Speaker Konstantin Kosachev, Chair of the Federation Council Committee on Foreign Affairs Grigory Karasin, Chair of the Federation Council Committee on Agriculture and Food Policy and Environmental Management Alexander Dvoinykh, First Deputy Chair of the Federation Council Committee on Foreign Affairs Vladimir Dzhabarov, First Deputy Chair of the Federation Council Committee on the Budget and Financial Markets and Head of the Federation Council Cooperation Group with the Assembly of the Republic of Mozambique Mukharby Ulbashev, and Deputy Chair of the Federation Council Committee on Science, Education and Culture Lyudmila Skakovskaya.

***

During the meeting, the Executive Office of the Federation Council and the General Secretariat of the Assembly of the Republic of Mozambique entered into a cooperation agreement. The document was signed by chief of Executive Office of the Federation Council Gennady Golov and Secretary General of the Assembly António Joaquim Maumane.

Earlier, Gennady Golov held a separate meeting with Antonio Joaquim Maumane to discuss the development of cooperation. “The agreement we signed is aimed at strengthening mutual understanding between the executive offices and their staff in day-to-day cooperation. It will help expand our ties. Interaction between our offices will reflect the high standards set by the leadership of our respective parliamentary chambers,” chief of the Federation Council Executive Office said.

Antonio Joaquim Maumane highlighted the importance of actively developing cooperation between the parliamentary executive offices of the two countries, proposing the use of delegation exchanges, training placements and joint seminars for this purpose.