On Thursday, April 11, 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 chairmen
of the Committees on International Affairs of the Parliaments of the BRICS
member states at the State Duma.
The parliamentarians and diplomats from China, South Africa, Brazil, India, as well as from the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Iran and Ethiopia took part in the meeting.
Vyacheslav Volodin recalled that 2024 is the year of Russia’s chairmanship in BRICS, and it is planned to hold the 10th BRICS Parliamentary Forum, which will be held in St. Petersburg. The meeting participants discussed its preparation.
The Chairman of the State Duma emphasized that the role of BRICS in the world had significantly increased. “The expansion of BRICS speaks of its growing authority in the world and its ability to influence the development of global decisions. For our part, we will do everything possible to facilitate the harmonious integration of new participants into all formats of the association’s activity, including within the parliamentary dimension,” he said.
Vyacheslav Volodin noted the fact that BRICS “has more and more supporters and counterparts: about thirty states have already declared their intention to join the association in one format or another.”
“One of our priorities is strengthening the BRICS role as an important center of economic and political influence. The numbers speak for themselves: the BRICS countries account for 35.6% of global GDP at purchasing power parity, while the G7 states account for 30.3%. By 2028, the situation will change even more in favor of BRICS: 36.6% versus 27.8%,” emphasized the Chairman of the State Duma.
Vyacheslav Volodin noted that our country’s interaction with its BRICS partners was based on the principles of friendship, mutually beneficial cooperation, non-interference in the internal affairs of sovereign states and the intention to form a multipolar world order.
“You and I see that a lot can be done if we use these principles as a basis. Interest in BRICS is also related to the intention to build a just world order. Over the 15 years of its existence, BRICS has become a good example of mutually beneficial interstate cooperation,” stressed the Chairman of the State Duma. “Our countries are united by the intention to protect state sovereignty, ensure independent development, preserve our traditions, culture, historical memory, and prevent the imposition of pseudo-values alien to our nations,” he added.
Also, according to Vyacheslav Volodin, cooperation with the BRICS member states should also include such important issues as the exchange of legislative practice in such areas as security, countering terrorism, energy development, tourism, environmental protection and several others. He called for more active interaction at the level of relevant committees of the parliaments of the BRICS member states.
Member of the Committee on International Affairs of the Islamic Consultative Assembly of Iran Ebrahim Rezaei supported him. “The time has come when it is necessary to deal with issues of culture, tourism, as well as issues of multipolarity to build equitable development and security,” he said.
Representatives of the delegations of China, Brazil, India and Egypt noted the importance of enhancing cooperation both at the level of the association and between the member states.
“Non-interference in the internal affairs of sovereign states is one of the principles that everyone shares. We express gratitude to the Russian Federation for being at the forefront of protecting these interests and promoting this principle,” emphasized the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ethiopia to the Russian Federation Cham Ugala Uriat.
No one outside the BRICS should dictate how to build the policy, emphasized the Chairman of the Committee on International Relations and Cooperation of the National Assembly of the Parliament of the Republic of South Africa Supra Obakeng Ramoeletsi Mahumapelo. “We in South Africa agree that we need to strengthen the strategic importance of BRICS, strengthen the role of this organization,” he said. “It is very important to build cooperation on the principles of mutual respect and respect for each other’s sovereignty and on the principles of multipolarity,” he added.
