The meeting of the Standing Committee
on Social and Cultural Affairs of the Asian Parliamentary Assembly was opened
in the Pillar Hall of the House of the Unions in Moscow. 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)
sent an address to the meeting participants. The text of the address was read out by the Deputy Chairman of the State Duma, Chairman of the APA Standing Committee on Social and Cultural Affairs Boris Chernyshov
Boris Alexandrovich
.
According to Vyacheslav Volodin, “it is important that the exchange of legislative experience and a constructive dialogue within the Assembly based on the principles of trust and equality contribute to enhancement of inter-parliamentary cooperation, ensuring the global security, building of a just multipolar world”.
Boris Chernyshov in his speech drew attention to the fact that the meeting gathered representatives of the parliaments from 19 countries. He stressed that the dialogue of foreign states with Russia “is more relevant than ever before and all attempts to isolate Russia, restrict it at the international arena have failed”.
“We witness the process of development of multipolar world. Therefore, cultural and social affairs serve as security basis and foundation for sustainable development. Issues of intercultural dialogue and social policy are inextricably linked to the policy and welfare of the nations,” added Boris Chernyshov.
The APA Secretary General Mohammad Reza Majidi noted a wide range of issues included in the agenda: cultural diversity and heritage, sustainable development. “You can see all the scale and importance of the current challenges that our society is facing. And we, as parliamentarian, should be even more involved,” he emphasized.
The Special Presidential Envoy for International Cultural Cooperation Mikhail Shvydkoy noted the increasing role of the inter-parliamentary dialogue. “As one of the ambassadors of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, I fully understand that the Asian region plays an important role in the modern politics,” he said.
The issues of protection of historical truth, countering modern challenges and threats to ensure peace, shaping a just multipolar world are one of the key topics for discussion at the Assembly, according to the Deputy Chairwoman of the State Duma Anna Kuznetsova
Kuznetsova 
Anna Yurievna . “Last year we adopted a resolution on a world order based on the cultural and civilizational diversity. And that is the great idea of the sovereign states,” she stressed.
According to the APA Vice President, the Chairman of the Committee on Financial and Economic Affairs of the Council of Representatives of the National Assembly of the Kingdom of Bahrain Ahmed Al Saloom, the Assembly is an important platform for dialogue between parliaments of Asia at regional and international levels. “When at the international arena, the level of trust decreases, we have greater responsibility to build bridges and reach mutual understanding, to reduce conflicts,” he said.
The representative of the APA President, member of the Milli Majlis of the Republic of Azerbaijan Amina Hamid ghizi Agazade noted the Assembly’s contribution to encouraging solidarity between the Asian countries. “We see that the Assembly plays an important role in social and cultural affairs aimed at reaching understanding,” she added.
Before the meeting started, the participants laid flowers at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier near the Kremlin wall.
The Asian Parliamentary Assembly (APA) is an inter-parliamentary organization created in 2006; it consists of representatives of legislative authorities from 44 states. Russia chairs the Standing Committee on Cultural and Social Affairs since 2024.
