| Rokiah Mahmud |
A MEMORANDUM of Understanding (MoU) was inked between the Brunei Legislative Council (LegCo) and Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation yesterday, thus further strengthening the cordial ties between both parties.
Later, a bilateral meeting was held between the Brunei LegCo members and the Russian delegates, comprising members and officials from the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation.
Among the issues discussed at the meeting were educational exchange programmes for students on both sides, as well as economic and trade cooperation.
Another issue raised was climate change, along with the possibility of disaster management and mutual cooperation in countering this problem.
Apart from serving as a platform for the exchange of ideas in various fields, the meeting hoped to forge a lasting alliance between Brunei Darussalam and the Russian Federation, based on mutual trust and understanding.
Earlier, LegCo Speaker, Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Lela Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Abdul Rahman bin Dato Setia Haji Mohamed Taib, received a courtesy call from the Chairperson of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation Valentina Matvienko, and her delegation.
Matvienko’s visit to the LegCo Building in Jalan Dewan Majlis was a response to a similar one made by the Brunei LegCo Speaker to Russia, in 2016.
Member of the Privy Council and LegCo member Yang Berhormat Pehin Datu Imam Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Awang Abdul Hamid bin Bakal, was also present during the courtesy call, together with the other LegCo members,
Also present were Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Brunei Darussalam Vladen Semivolos and Deputy Chairperson of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation Ilyas Umakhanov.
The Russian delegation also toured the LegCo Chamber Hall, where the annual meeting is held for the discussion of issues such as supply bills for government ministries and departments.