Chairman of the State Duma met with Speaker of the National Assembly of the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe
Vyacheslav Volodin is convinced that parliamentary cooperation could give new impetus to bilateral cooperation
The Chairman of the State Duma Vyacheslav 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)
held a meeting with the Speaker of the National Assembly of the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe Celmira
de Almeida do Sacramento dos Santos Lourenço on the sidelines of the Second
International Parliamentary Conference “Russia-Africa”.
Vyacheslav Volodin noted the fact that relations between Russia and São Tomé and Príncipe “are just at the beginning of development”, but the cooperation between parliamentarians could give new impetus.
“It would be right to pay attention, first of all, to the development of trade and economic ties, but also to build parliamentary cooperation,” he said.
Celmira de Almeida do Sacramento dos Santos Lourenço recalled that “throughout history, Russia has supported African countries, since Soviet times.”
“Russia has always supported São Tomé in its struggle for independence, and we also receive a lot of support in such areas like education and agriculture. Our relations and this support can reach a new level: we can start a new stage of inter-parliamentary relations,” she said.
The Speaker of the National Assembly stressed that it would be possible to exchange legislative experience between parliamentarians within the framework of a friendship group.
Vyacheslav Volodin invited the Speaker of the National Assembly of the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe to pay an official visit to Russia in 2023. Celmira de Almeida do Sacramento dos Santos Lourenço, in turn, also invited the Chairman of the State Duma to pay a visit to the Republic. He thanked for the invitation.
Earlier, the Chairman of the State Duma met with the Speaker of the National Assembly of the Parliament of South Africa Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, the Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Zimbabwe Jacob Mudenda, the President of the Senate of the Parliament of the Republic of Congo Pierre Ngolo, the President of the National Transitional Council of the Republic of Mali Malick Diaw, the President of the National Assembly of the Central African Republic Simplice Mathieu Sarandji and the President of the Transitional Legislative Assembly of the Republic of Burkina Faso Ousmane Bougouma.
On 19–20 March 2023, the State Duma hosts the Second International Parliamentary Conference “Russia – Africa” in Moscow.
More than 40 official parliamentary delegations from almost all African countries take part in the Conference. Representatives of the scientific, educational and expert communities from Russia and African countries, members of the State Duma, federal executive authorities, senators of the Federation Council, chairmen of the legislative bodies of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation, representatives of the business community also take part in the events of the Conference.
The objectives of the Conference are to strengthen parliamentary cooperation with African countries in the conditions of formation of a multipolar world, to develop relations and develop common approaches to legal regulation in the economy, science and education and security.
On March 19, on the first day of the Conference, there were held the following round tables:
- Parliamentary Support of Scientific and Educational Cooperation
- Legislative Response to Economic Challenges
- Indivisible Security: Capabilities and Contributions of Parliaments
- Neocolonialism of the West: How to Prevent the Repetition of History.
On March 19, there was also held a business breakfast with participation of the parliamentary delegations of African states and Russian business representatives.
On March 20, there will be held a plenary session of the International Parliamentary Conference entitled “Russia-Africa in the multipolar world”.
As part of the events of the Conference, the Chairman of the State Duma Vyacheslav Volodin hold bilateral meetings with several heads of delegations, speakers of parliaments and chambers of parliaments of African countries.
The Conference is planned to be held just few months before the Second Russia-Africa Summit, which is planned to be held on July 2023 in Saint Petersburg.
The First International Conference “Russia – Africa” was held in Moscow in 2019.
