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Date: 06 February 2019 OF

RAJYA SABHA SECRETARIAT

PRESS RELEASE

A Russian Parliamentary Delegation calls on Hon'ble Deputy Chairman, , Shri Harivansh; Emphasizes the need for strengthening cooperation in trade, education and culture;

Deputy Chairman highlights the issues of security, terrorism and economic growth

A Russian Parliamentary Delegation led by Ms. Elena Vladimirovna Afanasyeva, Head of the India-Russia Friendship Group of Council of Russian Federal Assembly and Member of the Federation Council Committee on Constitutional Legislation and State Building today called on Hon'ble Deputy Chairman (HDC), Rajya Sabha, Shri Harivansh at Parliament House Annexe Extension Building, New . Welcoming the delegation, HDC said that India attaches a great deal of importance in strengthening and nurturing the multi-faceted development of Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership with Russia. Expressing satisfaction on the overall state of bilateral relations, Shri Harivansh said that successful visit of Mr. Vladimir Putin, President of Russian Federation for the 19th Annual Bilateral Summit held in October, 2018 led to the signing of several important MOUs in the sphere of business and investment, civil nuclear cooperation, space, transport, etc. He added that bilateral trade which stands at USD 10.13 billion has been set to reach the target of USD 30 billion by 2025. Emphasising the need to accord priority to strengthening the Parliamentary ties between the two countries, HDC said that the issues of security and terrorism, economic growth, empowerment of women, etc. are of critical importance to both the countries and offer a broad agenda for inter-parliamentary cooperation. In this context, he called for ensuring that the meeting of the India-Russia Parliamentary Commission be held annually in India and Russia alternatively which would help in strengthening and regularizing our parliamentary cooperation. Besides, the meetings between the Chairpersons of International Affairs Committees of our could be useful in creating convergence on issues of mutual interest as well as coordinating approaches on issues of global importance. Shri Harivansh apprised the visiting delegation that celebrating the 150th Birth Anniversary of who had close contacts with the famous Russian author and philosopher, Leo Tolstoy and expressed the hope that the celebrations would be marked in a big way in Russia including in the Federation Council and drew the attention and support of the India-Russia Parliamentary Friendship Group of the Federation Council in this regard. Highlighting the importance of people to people connect between the two countries, HDC said that the Festival of India is being organized after a gap of 30 years in the Russian Federation which was inaugurated on 6 September, 2018 and would continue till 31 March, 2019. It will be held in 22 cities at 34 locations with 10 troupes representing the different facets of Indian culture. Ms. Elena Vladimirovna Afanasyeva thanked the Hon'ble Deputy Chairman for welcoming their Delegation. Describing India as a valuable ally with shared ethics and values having a mutually beneficial partnership in a number of areas since a very long time, she underlined the mutual bonhomie and cooperation for peace and human values between the delegates of the two countries on the platform of Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU). She also mentioned about the greater role being played by the Russia-India Parliamentary Commission and emphasised the need to take practical steps for regional ties also within the Russian Federation, besides the need for greater cooperation in the area of education and culture between the two countries and mutual recognition of Education Diploma. She also informed about their plan for celebrating the 150th Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi and a book brought out on him and to publish more books on culture and . Referring to greater people to people contact between the two countries, she mentioned about the craze for the Indian movies among the people from the different regions of the Russian Federation.