The meeting participants discussed ways to address common challenges and threats; Photo / Kazakh parliament’s press center

The Fourth Meeting of Speakers of Eurasian Countries’ Parliaments themed “Greater Eurasia: Dialogue, Trust and Partnership” reportedly provided a platform for a direct, multilateral dialogue between speakers of European and Asian parliaments and leaders of international organizations to identify main trends of socio-development, create a common ground for cooperation through cultural and human relations and parliamentary interaction, exchange legislative experience, coordinate their efforts and contribute to improve the well-being of people in their respective countries.   

The meeting participants reportedly discussed ways to address common challenges and threats.  They, in particular, discussed a new model of partnership based on dialogue and trust.

Co-organized by Kazakhstan’s Parliament, Russia’s State Duma and the National Assembly of South Korea, the event ended with adoption of a statement.

The statement, in particular, says that the participants of the 4th Meeting of Speakers of the Eurasian Countries’ Parliaments share a common vision of the future of Eurasia as a single space of peace, cooperation and interaction, common values and equal opportunities, and we express our readiness to promote a committed and open dialogue about the present and future of the Eurasian continent.

They reportedly note the special role of legislative authorities of the countries of Europe and Asia in supporting the activities of regional integration associations for the purpose of a comprehensive partnership based on the principles of respect for equality, consideration of mutual interests, and, in this regard, we emphasize the importance of improving inter-parliamentary cooperation.

They consider the search for joint responses to modern challenges and threats, as well as the harmonization of the geo-economic interests and ensuring greater connectivity of Eurasian countries, as the main elements in the formation of a common growth space in Eurasia, realizing a free, fair, non-discriminatory, transparent, predictable and stable trade and investment environment.

The meeting participants reportedly  consider it necessary to coordinate the efforts of parliamentarians in matters of digitalization, ensuring digital sovereignty, protecting the rights of citizens in the digital space, as well as innovative development of economies for the environmentally safe, sustainable and balanced development of Eurasian states.

The statement says they underscore the relevance of cooperation in disarmament, arms control and non-proliferation of nuclear weapons, as well as the peaceful use of atomic energy. We call on parliaments to effectively participate in building a nuclear weapon free world.

The meeting participants condemn terrorism in all its forms and manifestations as one of the major threats to the human community and sustainable development, and express our resolute intention to strengthen and develop inter-parliamentary cooperation in the fight against terrorism in accordance with the UN Charter and the principles of international law, without political egoism and double standards, respecting sovereignty and independence of the states of the continent and the whole world, to seek a convergence of views of our countries on this issue.

Recognizing the gravity of the situation with refugees in Eurasia fraught with major political, social, economic and, especially, humanitarian consequences, the meeting participants call for more effective, concerted efforts of the international community in jointly addressing this problem, according to the statement.

The meeting participants also stand for consolidated efforts against the use of information, communication and any new technologies to destabilize security on the continent, promote the ideas of terrorism, separatism, extremism, racial and religious intolerance in the Internet space.  They call for the continued cooperation in ensuring information and cyber security.

The previous three editions of the meeting of Speakers of Eurasian Countries' Parliaments were held in Russia, South Korea and Turkey in 2016, 2017 and 2018 respectively.    

The meeting participants reached an agreement to hold the 5th Meeting of Speakers of Eurasian Countries’ Parliaments in 2020 in Indonesia.