New Delhi, April 2: A Russian parliamentary delegation, led by Vladimir Yakushev, First Deputy Speaker of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, met with Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla at the Parliament House on Thursday.
Birla welcomed the Russian delegation and congratulated Yakushev on his election as the head of the Parliamentary Friendship Group of the Federation Council. He noted that this election reflects Russia’s ongoing commitment to enhancing parliamentary cooperation with India.
Emphasizing that dialogue and collaboration will deepen parliamentary relations between India and Russia, Birla stated that the partnership is based on mutual trust and has stood the test of time. He highlighted that since India’s independence, Russia has been one of its closest and most reliable partners, and the friendship and cooperation between the two nations serve as an example for the world.
Birla mentioned the recent high-level contacts between the two countries and the continuous dialogue between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin, which have strengthened bilateral relations and opened new avenues for cooperation.
Both sides underscored the importance of collaboration on multilateral parliamentary platforms such as the Inter-Parliamentary Union, BRICS Parliamentary Forum, and G-20. The Speaker stressed the need to enhance the spirit of cooperation to collectively address global challenges. Discussions also highlighted bilateral cooperation in key areas such as defense, trade, and economic collaboration. Emerging fields like space research, artificial intelligence, and clean energy were identified as potential areas for future cooperation.
Birla also referenced the strong cultural ties between India and Russia, noting the significant presence of Indian students in Russian universities and the popularity of yoga and Indian cinema in Russia, which reflect the deep cultural connection between the two nations.
He pointed out the large participation of people in the recently held cultural festival ‘India Festival’ in Moscow, indicating a growing interest among Russian citizens in Indian culture. The Speaker expressed gratitude for the affection shown by the Russian government towards the Indian community residing in Russia, ensuring their welfare and comfort.
Noting that the last meeting of the commission was held in 2018, he suggested that both parties consider convening the next meeting at a mutually convenient time. He also emphasized the importance of parliamentary friendship groups in enhancing dialogue and cooperation, stating that the formation of the India-Russia Parliamentary Friendship Group in India’s Parliament would strengthen parliamentary exchanges and diplomatic dialogue.
Expressing confidence that India-Russia relations will deepen in the future, he stated that such high-level dialogues would strengthen parliamentary friendship and enhance the broader bilateral partnership.
During the meeting, Yakushev expressed his gratitude to Om Birla for the warm welcome and for taking time from his busy schedule to meet the Russian delegation.
Yakushev remarked that the India-Russia strategic partnership is extremely important for Russia. He highlighted the close parliamentary cooperation between the two countries on various global platforms such as BRICS and G-20, noting that India will host the BRICS Parliamentary Forum meeting this year as the chair of BRICS.
He welcomed the formation of the India-Russia Parliamentary Friendship Group and mentioned that during their visit to India, the Russian delegation would hold meetings with the Communications and IT Parliamentary Committee and the India-Russia Parliamentary Friendship Group. Yakushev also invited Birla to visit Russia and resume the Inter-Parliamentary Commission. He emphasized the close cultural ties between the peoples of both nations, noting that over thirty-five thousand Indian students study in Russia, contributing to the deepening of relations between the two countries. He expressed hope for increased cooperation in various sectors, including trade and energy.
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