OREANDA-NEWS Russia has always considered and will continue to consider the Republic of South Africa as a reliable and trusted partner, said Valentina Matvienko, Chairman of the Federation Council of the Russian Federation.

Matvienko met with Speaker of the National Assembly of South Africa Angela Toko Didiza on the eve of the Sixth World Conference of Speakers of Parliaments, which will be held in Geneva.

"We have always considered and will continue to consider the Republic of South Africa as a reliable and trusted partner. Our relations are successfully developing based on the principles of strategic partnership, equality, and mutual respect," Matvienko said during the meeting.

Matvienko stressed that strengthening ties with Africa is one of Russia's priorities. She also added that relations between South Africa and the Russian Federation are successfully developing on the principles of strategic partnership, equality and mutual respect.

"South Africa's authority in the international arena is growing year by year. South Africa's presidency of the G20 this year is a very important event, to which we attach great importance and consider it a good opportunity to strengthen the role of the Global South in the global economy and highlight the African continent's rise as one of the centers of a multipolar world," the parliamentarian stressed.

A delegation of the Russian parliament is in Geneva on a working visit, the press service of the upper house of the Russian parliament reported earlier.