The meeting was held in the framework of the Meeting of Speakers of Eurasian Countries’ Parliaments that takes place in Antalya. Its topic is “Economic Cooperation, Environment, and Sustainable Development in Eurasia”. The previous meeting was held in Seoul in 2017.
“The parliaments of our countries have initiated such a format,” said Viacheslav Volodin
Vyacheslav Victorovich
The Chairman of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation of the eighth convocation. Elected in single mandate constituency № 163 (Saratov constituency - Saratov Oblast)
and stressed that this initiative is gaining more and more support, comparing to the previous year, the number of participants of the Meeting of Speakers of Eurasian Countries’ Parliaments has increased significantly.
Viacheslav Volodin pointed out the need for further development of inter-parliamentary cooperation between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Korea in order to ensure legislative implementation of the agreements reached by the presidents of the two countries.
Speaking about the creation of the Inter-Parliamentary Commission on Cooperation of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea and the State Duma, the Chairman of the State Duma noted that “within the framework of a new, more efficient format, it is possible to discuss issues related to the development of our relations in a concentrated manner”. He also invited Moon Hee-sang to pay an official visit to Russia.
Moon Hee-sang, in his turn, reminded that the President of the Republic of Korea, Moon Jae-in, spoke at the plenary meeting of the State Duma on June 21. “It was an important event for our nation,” said the Chairman of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea.
Viacheslav Volodin said that the speech of the President of the Republic of Korea at the plenary meeting of the State Duma set the direction for the further development of relations between the two states.
The parties discussed economic cooperation between the two countries and noted the positive dynamics in this sphere. Thus, the Chairman of the State Duma stated that the Republic of Korea takes the 7th place in the list of Russian foreign trade partners. In 2017, the trade turnover between the countries increased by 27.3%, and over the past few months of this year — by 8%. “This suggests that we are building relationships on the principles of mutual understanding and mutual benefit,” said Viacheslav Volodin. Moon Hee-sang noted the successful cooperation of countries in the tourism sphere and said that the Republic of Korea would like a tourist flow to achieve 1 million people.
The question of the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula was also raised.
“Russia plays an important role in reconciling the DPRK and the Republic of Korea,” said Moon Hee-sang and thanked the Russian side for active participation in the solution of this problem.
In addition, the Chairman of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea noted the importance of this bilateral meeting for the development of relations between the countries. He reminded that in 2020 it will be 30 years of establishment of diplomatic relations between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Korea.
The Charter signed by Viacheslav Volodin and Moon Hee-sang implies, in particular, the expansion and deepening of cooperation between the Republic of Korea and the Russian Federation, as well as providing the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea and the State Duma with additional opportunities for the exchange of experience in legislative activity. Regular consultations on issues of mutual interest, including energy, digital economy, transport, will be held. The initiative to establish the Inter-Parliamentary Commission on Cooperation belongs to Viacheslav Volodin.
