Moscow City Duma launches new format of cooperation between BRICS capitals

A ceremonial signing of the Joint Statement by participants of the Parliamentary Movement of the BRICS Capitals will take place at the Moscow Parliamentary Centre on 27 October. The idea of creating this format belongs to the Chairman of the Moscow City Duma, Aleksey Shaposhnikov, and the initiative has been supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia.

The Parliamentary Movement of the BRICS Capitals is being established as a new channel for direct interaction between major cities facing similar challenges and tasks. According to its initiators, it is designed to complement traditional diplomacy, improve the effectiveness of international cooperation, and strengthen partnerships at the municipal level.

The official event will be attended by Deputy Chairpersons of the Federation Council Konstantin Kosachev and Inna Svyatenko, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia Sergey Ryabkov, Minister of the Moscow Government and Head of the Department for External Economic and International Relations of Moscow Sergey Cheremin, as well as heads of diplomatic missions. Officials representing the authorities of Minsk (Belarus), Brasilia (Brazil), Havana (Cuba), Addis Ababa (Ethiopia), Tehran (Iran), Tshwane (South Africa), Kampala (Uganda), and Moscow (Russia) will also take part.

Shaposhnikov underlined the significance of the new format, noting that the initiative opens a new chapter in the international cooperation of major cities. He added that many tasks lie ahead, and the partnership among representative bodies of key cities will create a solid foundation for a world order based on equality, trust, and mutual respect.

“Our group is acquiring a truly global dimension, connecting the capitals of four continents and millions of their residents,” said the Chairman of the Moscow City Duma.

Earlier in Beijing, Shaposhnikov met with Li Xiulin, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Beijing Municipal People’s Congress. Following the visit of Moscow City Duma deputies to the Chinese capital, a Joint Statement of the participants of the Parliamentary Movement of the BRICS Capitals was signed.

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