Islamabad: The Honorable Speaker of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, H.E. Ms. Valentina Matvienko, met with the Honorable Speaker of Pakistan’s National Assembly, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq. Speaker Sadiq warmly welcomed Ms. Matvienko and her high-level parliamentary delegation. The meeting centered on strengthening bilateral relations, with a particular focus on advancing parliamentary cooperation for mutual benefit.
Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq reaffirmed Pakistan’s longstanding, broad-based relationship with Russia, highlighting its foundation on principles of mutual respect and trust. He emphasized that Pakistan’s ties with Russia are a vital component of its foreign policy.
H.E. Ms. Madam Valentina Matvienko expressed gratitude for the warm welcome extended to her and congratulated Speaker Sadiq on his re-election. She noted that Russia values Pakistan as a significant player on the international stage and commended the country’s efforts toward global peace. Additionally, she reaffirmed Russia’s support for Pakistan’s BRICS membership bid and emphasized the importance of collective efforts to foster peace and prosperity on both regional and global fronts.
In response, Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq expressed his gratitude to Ms. Matvienko for her remarks and reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to continued collaboration with Russia across areas of shared interest.
Underscoring the importance of parliamentary collaboration, Speaker Sadiq noted that parliamentary diplomacy has historically played a key role in reinforcing bilateral relations. He advocated for continuous engagement between the two parliaments, facilitated through parliamentary friendship groups and high-level exchanges, as a means of promoting mutual learning and shared experiences.
Reflecting on past initiatives to strengthen parliamentary ties, Speaker Sadiq recalled the organization of the inaugural Six-Country Speakers’ Conference in Pakistan, attended by counterparts from Afghanistan, Iran, China, Turkiye, and Russia. This conference proved instrumental in addressing common issues of regional interest. He also mentioned his tenure as Convener of the Pakistan-Russia Parliamentary Friendship Group during the 15th National Assembly of Pakistan.
The meeting concluded with a reaffirmed commitment from both sides to strengthen cooperation across all areas of mutual interest, aiming to benefit both countries and promote regional well-being.
