PHOTO: National Assembly of the Republic of Korea. Speaker Moon Hee-sang (left) visited Russia and met with Chairman of State Duma Viacheslav Volodin (right) on May 28, 2019.
On Tuesday, Speaker Moon Hee-sang visited the Russian State Duma and met with Chairman Viacheslav Volodin to discuss increased cooperation between the two parliaments. This meeting was held on the eve of the first meeting of the Inter-Parliamentary Commission on Cooperation between the State Duma and the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea.
Both Speakers noted the level of friendship between the two countries. Chairman Volodin said that Russia and the Republic of Korea “are united by a friendship built on trust, the absence of double standards, and the endeavor for our countries to flourish,” adding that this was a good basis for the development of relations between the two countries in the future. Speaker Moon echoed this idea, saying that “it is obvious that Korea-Russia relations and legislative exchange have elevated to its highest level, with more than 80 Korean parliamentarians having visited Russia last year.”
The Speakers also discussed the Meeting of Speakers of Eurasian Countries’ Parliaments (MSEAP): Speaker Moon said that “the 4th MSEAP has become an international brand” with more support each year, noting that 48 countries including Korea, Russia, and Kazakhstan have already declared their willingness to participate, and major European countries such as Germany, France, and Italy expressed their interest in participation. Speaker Volodin also lauded MSEAP, stating that “over the past few years we have managed to create new formats that allow us developing relations more actively, and, most importantly, they create a substantive platform for discussing issues that are pending solutions.”
“The number of people willing to take part in the meeting is growing every year, and we hope that this year even more of our colleagues from all countries representing a vast territory of Europe and Asia will come to Kazakhstan to discuss issues of interregional cooperation, economic development, countering terrorism, threats to security as all this will be discussed within the framework of this format, which was once initiated by our parliaments and which received great support and is currently under dynamic development,“ said Speaker Volodin. The 4th MSEAP will be held in Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan from September 23-24, 2019. Regarding the 5th MSEAP, Speaker Moon invited Speaker Volodin to discuss the possibility of holding the 5th MSEAP in one of the countries in Asia such as Vietnam or the Philippines, according to the alternating principle for convening between countries in Asia and Europe.
The two Speakers highlighted the need for further development of inter-parliamentary cooperation between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Korea in order to ensure legislative implementation of the agreements reached by the Presidents of the two countries. Speaker Volodin said, “Our presidents are doing a lot for the development of relations between our countries, and for our part, we must do everything to ensure legislative support for the decisions taken at the highest level and develop inter-parliamentary contacts.” Speaker Volodin discussed Korean President Moon’s address at the plenary meeting of the State Duma last summer, and how “it created a good basis for better understanding between [the two countries], and most importantly, basis for future decisions.”
In turn, Speaker Moon called to support the endeavors of the Presidents of both countries to expand the trade turnover to $30 billion and announced the decision of the heads of state that the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the countries will be celebrated in 2020 – adding that parliaments should support these events. Speaker Moon also asked Speaker Volodin to convey an invitation to speak at a meeting of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea to President Vladimir Putin, and invited Speaker Volodin to visit Republic of Korea again in the near future.
The Speakers signed a Charter on the creation of the Inter-Parliamentary Commission on Cooperation of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea and the State Duma, and presided over the meeting. The Charter calls for the expansion and deepening of cooperation between the Republic of Korea and the Russian Federation, increased opportunities for legislative exchange, and regular consultations on issues of mutual interest, including, inter alia, energy, digital economy, and transport.
Speaker Volodin said during the meeting that the priority in the work of the Inter-parliamentary Commission should be to ensure enhanced trade and economic cooperation between the two countries – the implementation of large-scale investment projects related to the creation of new manufactures in the regions of Siberia and the Far East, and the central part of Russia. He also noted that draft intergovernmental agreements on the mutual recognition of driver's licenses, scientific and technical cooperation, recognition of diplomas of members of the crew of ships are among those in the process of consultation and “the citizens of our countries are waiting for the solution of these issues”.
In the Commission meeting, Speaker Volodin proposed to start an expert study of trilateral projects in Russia, Republic of Korea and the Democratic Republic of Korea (DPRK) on the integration of the Korean railways with the Trans-Siberian Railway and the transit of pipeline gas and electricity. Speaker Moon noted the role of Russia in achieving sustainable peace in the Korean Peninsula: “Russia plays an important role in reconciling the DPRK and the Republic of Korea,” and thanked the Russian side for active participation in the solution of this problem. He added that peace in the Korean peninsula will also mean peace throughout Northeast Asia and Eurasia, bringing benefits to not just the two Koreas, but also to Russia and the rest of the International Community by accelerating practical cooperation between South Korea and Russia.
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20190528008700315
http://interkomitet.com/news-of-the-day/viacheslav-volodin-and-moon-hee-sang-signed-the-charter-of-the-inter-parliamentary-commission-on-cooperation/
http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20170517000848
http://www.assembly.go.kr/assm/memact/chairman/chairman02/chrMov/chrMovView.do?boarditemid=1100387297&no=2825&bbs_cd_n=¤tPage=1&search_key_n=&search_val_v=&cate_n=&dept_v=
http://duma.gov.ru/en/news/45132/
http://duma.gov.ru/en/news/28351/
http://duma.gov.ru/en/news/45134/
PHOTO: Montsame.mn. The Second Regional Seminar for the Asia-Pacific Region Parliaments on Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) was held in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia from May 27-28, 2019.
From 27 to 28 May, the State Great Hural of Mongolia and the Inter-Parliamentary Union jointly organized the Second Regional Seminar for the Asia-Pacific Region Parliaments on Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. This seminar served as a follow-up meeting on the conclusions of the first seminar on this topic held in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam in 2017, and was held under the theme “Advancing the SDGs for people and the planet”.
Over 100 delegates from 18 countries in the Asia-Pacific region and international organizations met to discuss issues related to climate change, mainly focusing on the importance of building a culture of prevention and promoting shift to a low carbon, resource efficient and socially inclusive economy. Chairman of the State Great Hural of Mongolia Gombojav Zandanshatar, President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Gabriela Cuevas Barron, and Advisor to the Prime Minister L.Altangerel delivered a keynote address in the opening session.
The participants received presentations by Sustainable Development Officer of Environment and Development Division, United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific Riccardo Mesiano and Chair of Standing Committee on Social Policy, Education, Culture and Science MP Dulamsuren Oyunkhorol. There were five panel discussions and a roundtable discussion where delegates were divided in three groups to share their experiences and opinions on how parliamentarians can achieve SDGs implementation in different areas.
The second Regional seminar for the Asia-Pacific Region Parliament on Achieving SDGs closed on May 28 with the adoption of the outcome document. The IPU President Gabriela Cuevas made closing remarks, giving importance to the inclusive approach and parliament’s cooperation with media, private sector and NGOs in achieving SDGs.
https://www.ipu.org/event/second-regional-seminar-asia-pacific-region-parliaments-achieving-sustainable-development-goals
https://montsame.mn/en/read/190684
BY MSEAP Cyber Secretariat (mseap@assembly.go.kr)
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