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Russian upper house speaker praises Moscow-Seoul relations

Russia's upper house speaker says relations between Russia and South Korea can serve as an example for many countries

SEOUL, October 5. /TASS/. Relations between Russia and South Korea can serve as an example for many countries, Speaker of Russia’s Federation Council (upper house of parliament) Valentina Matviyenko said at a meeting with Speaker of South Korea’s National Assembly Moon Hee-sang on Friday.

"The establishment of diplomatic relations between Moscow and Seoul nearly 30 years ago was a landmark event, which, to a large extent, signaled the beginning of a turning point in the situation in the Asia-Pacific region - from the Cold War standoff to overcoming the existing disagreements," she said.

"Today, Russian-South Korean relations can be an example for many other countries," Matviyenko added. She stressed that Russia treasures relations with South Korea as an important and promising partner in the region. She also assured that "promoting and developing bilateral multifaceted cooperation, giving a fresh impetus to it," including through the inter-parliamentary dialogue, was a consolidated stance of Russian society.

Matviyenko is paying an official visit to South Korea, which will last until October 6. She earlier met with South Korean President Moon Jae-in.

Assistance to North and South Korea

Russia will provide assistance to the DPRK and South Korea, if the two countries decide to launch the unification process, but that must be their sovereign decision, she added. 

"Only two sovereign states, the DPRK and the Republic of Korea, can decide whether or not to unite and when to unite. If they make such a decision, Russia will support it and provide the necessary assistance," she said.