Vyacheslav Volodin: new formats of cooperation between Russia and Cuba have proved their effectiveness
He said that at the meeting with President of the National Assembly of People's Power and the Council of State of Cuba Juan Esteban Lazo Hernández
On Saturday,
September 30, 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 President of the National Assembly of People's Power and the Council
of State of Cuba Juan Esteban Lazo Hernández, which was held as part of the events of the First International Parliamentary Conference “Russia – Latin
America”.
“Our relations are developing and new formats, that we chose together, have proved their effectiveness,” emphasized Vyacheslav Volodin at the beginning of the meeting.
This is proved by a six-fold increase in trade turnover between the countries, according to him.
The Chairman of the State Duma noted that the leaders of Russia and Cuba set the dynamics of relations between the two states.
“Our task is to provide legislative support for implementation of their decisions, maintain constant contacts within the framework of interparliamentary relations,” he said.
All the State Duma factions supported the idea of developing relations with Cuba, as added the Chairman of the State Duma.
Vyacheslav Volodin recalled that the first meeting of the Commission on Cooperation between the State Duma and the National Assembly of People's Power of Cuba was held in Havana in April.
“We adopted decisions that will help continue to build our relations, develop economies together, bring positions closer,” said the Chairman of the State Duma.
Among the priority areas of joint projects between Russia and Cuba, he named the extraction and processing of mineral resources, the production of cane sugar, tourism, and solar energy. “It would be right to enhance humanitarian and education cooperation,” said the Chairman of the State Duma.
Vyacheslav Volodin invited Esteban Lazo Hernández to address members of the State Duma at the plenary meeting.
Esteban Lazo Hernández conveyed to Vyacheslav Volodin greetings from the President of Cuba Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez. “He has very fond memories of your fruitful negotiations during your visit to Cuba in April,” added the President of the National Assembly of People's Power and the Council of State of Cuba.
He is convinced that the Commission on Cooperation between the State Duma and the National Assembly of People's Power of Cuba is “a unique, exceptional mechanism.”
“The meeting of a new type of interparliamentary commission contributed to the further successful holding of the intergovernmental commission, because we analyzed almost all issues of our cooperation. I believe that there cannot be positive bilateral government relations if there are not equally good connections between parliaments,” said Esteban Lazo Hernández.
The task is to strengthen the mechanism and monitor the implementation of the reached agreements, according to him.
Being tired is not for politicians
Speaking about the busy schedule and long journey to Russia, Esteban Lazo Hernández said: “The fighters may get a little tired, but we do not get tired of our main activity.”
“The main thing is not to lose the spirit of fight. Che [Ernesto Che Guevara] once told me this. From now on, I never use the word “tired.” If we get tired, we will stop fighting,” he emphasized.
“If a politician gets tired, he/she needs to retire,” agreed the Chairman of the State Duma.
On September 29 — October 2, the First International Parliamentary Conference
“Russia – Latin America” is being held in Moscow at the initiative of the State
Duma. More than 200 participants, including parliamentarians from different
countries of Latin America and the Caribbean Region, representatives of the expert community, public figures and diplomats are expected to take part in the Conference. They plan to discuss with their Russian colleagues relevant issues
of the international parliamentary agenda.
On Friday, September 29, the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin addressed the Conference participants.
The following round tables will be held as part of the events of the Conference:
- Equal and mutually beneficial economic cooperation: role of the parliaments
- Development of humanitarian ties between Russia and Latin America: contribution of the parliaments
- Just multipolar world: role of the parliamentary diplomacy
- Security for all: position of the parliaments
On October 2, the plenary session of the International Parliamentary Conference “Russia – Latin America” will be held at the State Duma (the Pillar Hall of the House of the Unions) on the topic “Cooperation for a just world for all”.
