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Second Russia-Africa Summit Expected to Take Bilateral Relations to New Heights

© AFP 2023 / SERGEI CHIRIKOVRussia's President Vladimir Putin and Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi make a press statement following the 2019 Russia-Africa Summit at the Sirius Park of Science and Art in Sochi, Russia, on October 24, 2019.
Russia's President Vladimir Putin and Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi make a press statement following the 2019 Russia-Africa Summit at the Sirius Park of Science and Art in Sochi, Russia, on October 24, 2019. - Sputnik International, 1920, 01.12.2022
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According to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, the second Russia-Africa summit, scheduled for 2023, will focus on developing ways to expand country-to-continent economic cooperation.
Moscow anticipates that the second Russia-Africa summit, scheduled for July 2023, will take Russian-African cooperation to a new level, according to Oleg Ozerov, Ambassador at Large of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Head of the Secretariat of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum.
"We assume that this forum should represent a qualitatively new step in the development of Russian-African relations. It should bring our relations to a different level of interaction. This corresponds not only with our intentions, but also with the intentions of the majority of African states, which send us positive signals about their willingness to participate in the forum's preparation and execution," Ozerov pointed out.
According to Ozerov, the second summit is designed to give a new impetus to Russian-African political, trade, economic, investment, scientific, technical and humanitarian cooperation.

"We see that most African countries perceive Russia as an ally against Western neocolonial domination, as well as a market alternative to the US and EU," he said.

The block of humanitarian cooperation is an important new area, which will be developed at this summit, the Ambassador at Large indicated.
"We consider that the summit should include a comprehensive humanitarian program, including science, education, culture, the role of the media, sports, and so on. This [humanitarian cooperation], I believe, is one of the main areas... This is due to the fact that Africans themselves raise issues of humanitarian cooperation," Ozerov elaborated.
Ozerov stressed that the forum will address food and energy security, as well as healthcare.
"Russia has things to offer, both in terms of grain and fertilizer... Apart from energy, Russia can offer its expertise in other industries, such as oil and gas, transportation infrastructure, aviation and automotive, computer technology, agriculture, and many more," he stated.
Commenting on tWashington’s US-Africa summit, scheduled for December 12-15, Ozerov noted that the Americans are competing with Russia to outdo the scope of the first Russia-Africa summit. However, Ozerov noted that Washington's efforts appear to be futile, as the American forum is expected to draw 49 participants, whereas the Russian summit brought together "all the states of the continent, 54 of the 55 members of the African Union."

"The main goal, however, is to reach a productive summit. Of course, we anticipate the participation of African delegations at the highest and most senior levels," he indicated.

The first Russia-Africa Summit was held in Sochi, Russia in 2019 and set a list of priority development areas, such as security, trade, cooperation within international platforms, science, technology and culture.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Central African Republic President Faustin Archange Touadera shake hands as they pose for a photo prior to their meeting at the 2019 Russia-Africa Summit and Economic Forum in Sochi, Russia - Sputnik International, 1920, 18.11.2022
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