New Delhi [India], April 2 (ANI): A Russian Parliamentary Delegation led by HE Vladimir Yakushev, First Deputy Chairperson, Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, called on Lok Sabha Speaker Shri Om Birla in Parliament House on Thursday, Lok Sabha Secretariat said in a release.
Welcoming the distinguished Russian delegation, the Speaker congratulated Yakushev on his appointment as Chairman of the Parliamentary Friendship Group of the Federation Council. The Speaker noted that this appointment reflects Russia's continued commitment to enhancing parliamentary cooperation with India.
Highlighting that India-Russia Parliamentary ties are set to deepen through renewed dialogue and cooperation, Birla observed that the two countries share a time-tested partnership rooted in mutual trust and understanding. Since India's independence, Russia has remained one of its closest and most reliable partners, and the friendship between the people of both countries continue to serve as a model for international cooperation, he noted.
The Speaker recalled the recent high-level engagements between the two countries, and the continued dialogue between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President of Russia, Vladimir Putin. These interactions, the Speaker emphasized, have further strengthened bilateral ties and opened new avenues for cooperation.
Both sides acknowledged the importance of collaboration in multilateral parliamentary platforms such as the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), BRICS Parliamentary Forum, and G20. The Speaker stressed the need to further deepen this cooperation to address global challenges collectively. The discussions also highlighted the robust bilateral cooperation in key sectors such as defence, trade, and economic engagement. Emerging areas including space research, artificial intelligence, and clean energy were identified as promising avenues for future collaboration.
The Speaker also noted the strong cultural and people-to-people connections between India and Russia. The presence of a large number of Indian students in Russian universities, along with the popularity of yoga and Indian cinema in Russia, reflects the deep cultural affinity between the two nations. The recent 'Bharat Utsav' cultural festival held in Moscow, which witnessed significant public participation, was cited as a testament to the growing interest in Indian culture among Russian citizens. Appreciating the support extended by the Russian government to the Indian community residing in Russia, the Speaker expressed gratitude for ensuring their welfare and well-being, the release said.
Emphasizing the role of institutional mechanisms, the Speaker highlighted the significance of the Inter-Parliamentary Commission in fostering closer ties between the legislatures of both countries. Noting that the last meeting of the Commission was held in 2018, the Speaker suggested that both sides may consider convening its next session at a mutually convenient time. The Speaker also underlined the importance of parliamentary friendship groups in enhancing dialogue and cooperation. The formation of the India-Russia Parliamentary Friendship Group in the Indian Parliament is expected to further strengthen parliamentary exchanges and diplomatic engagement.
Expressing confidence in the future of India-Russia relations, the Speaker stated that such high-level interactions would continue to reinforce parliamentary friendship and contribute to the broader bilateral partnership.
Speaking on the occasion, HE Vladimir Yakushev, First Deputy Chairperson, Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation thanked Birla for the warm reception and for taking time out of his busy schedule to meet with the Russian Delegation.
HE Yakushev noted that the Indo-Russian strategic partnership is of utmost importance to Russia. Underlining the close parliamentary cooperation between the two countries and on various global platforms like BRICS and P20 HE Yakushev said that as the BRICS Chair, India will be hosting the BRICS Parliamentary Forum this year.
Yakushev, welcomed the formation of the India Russia Parliamentary Friendship Group and informed that during his India visit, the Russian Delegation will be holding meetings with the Parliamentary Committee on Communications and IT and with the India Russia Parliamentary
He also extended an invitation to Birla to visit Russia and restart the Inter-Parliamentary Commission. He also observed that the two nations have close cultural and people ties.
HE Vladimir Yakushev noted that more than Thirty-Five Thousand Indian students study in Russia and contribute to close relations between the two countries. He expressed hope for closer ties between the two countries across multiple sectors like trade and energy.
The meeting concluded on a positive note, with both sides reaffirming their commitment to further strengthening India-Russia relations across all dimensions. (ANI)