President of Russia Vladimir Putin opened the First Plenary Session of the 2nd #RussiaAfrica Summit

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💬 Dear friends,

We continue our work.
We are opening the First Plenary Session of the Russia - Africa Summit.

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This shows our mutual intention to strengthen cooperation in all areas, bolster honest, transparent and constructive partnership.

#RussiaAfrica

🇷🇺🌍 President Vladimir Putin took part in the Plenary Session of the Russia–Africa Summit.

📍 Saint Petersburg, July 28, 2023

Key talking points:

• For decades, we invariably provided support during the African countries’ difficult fight against colonialism. Unfortunately, some manifestations of colonialism have not been eradicated to this day, and former colonial powers still practice them.

• These ideals of freedom, independence and sovereignty are also very important now in the difficult period of international turbulence, when a truly multipolar world order is evolving.

• Russia and Africa share the inherent commitment to standing up for genuine sovereignty and the right to follow their own unique development path.

❗️ The African continent is emerging as a new centre of power right before our eyes.

• We are ready to consider, in practical terms, proposals for expanding the representation of African structures, and Africans in general, in UN bodies, including in the context of the reform of the Security Council currently under development. We believe that the time has come to correct the historical injustices afflicted on the African continent.

• Realising the importance of an uninterrupted food supply for the socioeconomic development and political stability of African states, we are increasing agricultural supplies to Africa.

• Russia’s attention to Africa is steadily growing, which is evident in our plans to increase our diplomatic presence on the continent. We are ready to restore and open new Russian foreign missions and to increase the staff at a number of existing embassies.

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#RussiaAfrica

✍️ On July 28, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Chairperson of the Commission of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) Gilberto da Piedade Verissimo signed the Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of the Russian Federation and the ECCAS on the Foundation for Relations and Cooperation, on the sidelines of the second Russia-Africa Summit in St Petersburg in the presence of President of Russia Vladimir Putin and Chair of the African Union, President of the Union of Comoros Azali Assoumani.

The ECCAS, which includes 11 countries in Central Africa (Angola 🇦🇴, Burundi 🇧🇮, Gabon 🇬🇦, Cameroon 🇨🇲, Congo 🇨🇬, the DRC 🇨🇩, Rwanda 🇷🇼, Sao Tome and Principe 🇸🇹, the CAR 🇨🇫, Chad 🇹🇩, and Equatorial Guinea 🇬🇶) was created in 1983 to develop integration processes between member countries, promote comprehensive deepening of regional cooperation based on their respective economic potential, and move towards the creation of a common market. In addition to the traditional package of integration goals, the ECCAS is also involved in strengthening peace and stability, combating terrorism and piracy, and supporting election processes in the ECCAS space.

This memorandum lays the legal foundation for relations between Russia and this integrational association and is aimed at assisting in further promoting cooperation in the economic, cultural, humanitarian and social spheres.

As part of the implementation of the memorandum, it is planned to hold regular consultations between the parties and develop separate cooperation programmes.

#RussiaAfrica

🇷🇺🌍 Vladimir Putin’s concluding remarks at the second Plenary Session of the Russia-Africa Summit

📍 Saint Petersburg, July 28, 2023

💬 We had a meaningful and interested exchange of views on the entire range of strategic cooperation between Russia and African nations.

In addition, during plenary sessions, numerous bilateral meetings, thematic roundtable discussions and panel sessions, we reviewed in detail current global problems, issues of world economics and politics, food and energy security, stable and sustainable development and cultural and humanitarian cooperation.

We determined the main areas of our further joint work and mapped out our plans for enhancing foreign policy coordination, building up trade and investment flows and promoting industrial cooperation between Russia and African countries.

We talked about the training of top professionals for African national economies.

We drafted and approved the main declaration of the second Russia-Africa Summit and a number of thematic declarations:

• on preventing an arms race in space,
• on cooperation in international information security,
• on enhancing cooperation in countering terrorism.

In addition, the plan of action of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum for 2023–2026 is ready for adoption. Colleagues, if nobody objects, let us consider these most important documents adopted. (Applause.) No objections at all? Thank you.

In general, we highly value the results of our joint work at the summit. I am sure the achieved results are creating a good foundation for further deepening the Russia-Africa partnership in the interests of our nations’ prosperity and wellbeing.

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#RussiaAfrica

🇷🇺🌍 Press statement by President of Russia Vladimir Putin following the second Russia-Africa Summit

📍 Saint Petersburg, July 28, 2023

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Key points:

• We are happy that the delegations of the overwhelming majority of African countries and the heads of all leading integration structures of Africa are taking part in the summit.

• Representatives of African states displayed political will and demonstrated their independence and interest in developing cooperation with our country.

• Following the work, the participants adopted a solid package of joint documents. First, I will mention the St Petersburg Declaration that was approved by the leaders. It formalises strategic areas for the development of Russia’s cooperation with African countries in long-term perspective.

• All our states confirmed their commitment to the formation of a fair and democratic multipolar world order based on the universally recognised principles of international law and the UN Charter.

• They expressed their joint resolve to counter neocolonialism, the practice of using illegitimate sanctions and attempts to undermine traditional moral values.

• The Sochi agreement has been confirmed – to hold Russia-Africa summits every three years.

• The large-scale Action Plan until 2026 contains specific goals on invigorating the Russia-Africa economic and humanitarian partnership and implementing decisions of the Petersburg summit as a whole.

• We are planning to build up our trade in quality and quantity and improve its pattern. We are also going to gradually switch to national currencies, including the ruble, in making financial payments on commercial deals.

• Our country will continue supplying our African friends with crops both contractually and free of charge, help them develop their power industry to meet the growing needs of the African economies in hydrocarbon fuel and electricity generating capacities.

#RussiaAfrica

🇷🇺🇨🇫 President of Russia Vladimir Putin held a meeting with President of the Central African Republic Faustin-Archange Touadera

📍 Saint Petersburg, July 28, 2023

💬 President Putin: I would like to emphasise that cooperation between our countries has received a good boost in recent years. We consistently support the efforts taken by the CAR leadership to enhance national sovereignty and defence capacity, and tackle extremist and terrorist groups. We provide practical assistance to you and will continue to do so.

Regrettably, our trade and economic ties so far fall behind the general level of cooperation. But we are committed to taking efforts to improve the situation, including through promoting ambitious projects.

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Mr President, as you know, we offer humanitarian support as well. In August 2022, a batch of food was donated to the republic as part of Russia’s voluntary targeted contribution under the UN World Food Programme.

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Our countries share a common stance in the international arena; we coordinate steps on major regional and global issues and appreciate the support you offer to us within the UN as well as other international organisations.

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#RussiaAfrica

🇷🇺🇱🇾 President of Russia Vladimir Putin held talks with President of the Presidential Council of the State of Libya Mohamed Yunus al-Menfi

📍 Saint Petersburg, July 28, 2023

💬 President Putin: Libya is our long-term partner in North Africa. We have many years of experience of efficient joint work, and I believe we still have immense potential for interaction.

Our trade and economic cooperation is advancing quite well overall. Our mutual trade grew by 67.5 percent last year, which is obviously a good indicator, and nearly doubled again between January and April this year.

Priority sectors include industrial and transport infrastructure as well as the energy sector. Russia and Libya cooperate within various multilateral organisations and formats, including OPEC Plus and the Gas Exporting Countries Forum, which promotes stability in global energy markets.

Naturally, the agenda includes achieving a sustainable normalisation in Libya; we are well aware of this. Russia will further promote progress on key tracks of the settlement based on efforts to ensure unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Libyan state.

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#RussiaAfrica

🇷🇺🇪🇷 President of Russia Vladimir Putin met with President of Eritrea Isaias Afwerki

📍 Saint Petersburg, July 28, 2023

💬 President Putin: I am happy to meet with you again and to have the opportunity to compare notes on current issues. Russia and Eritrea maintain friendly relations that continue to develop on the principles of equality and mutual respect; last May we marked the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations.

A couple of months ago you visited Russia and we held in-depth talks, and discussed promising areas for cooperation between our countries, mapping out concrete steps to develop them.

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🇷🇺🤝🌍 The Second #RussiaAfrica Summit has concluded!

🇩🇿 🇦🇴 🇧🇯 🇧🇫 🇧🇮 🇬🇲 🇬🇭 🇬🇳 🇬🇼 🇩🇯 🇨🇩 🇪🇬 🇿🇼 🇨🇲 🇰🇪 🇰🇲 🇨🇮 🇱🇾 🇲🇷 🇲🇱 🇲🇦 🇲🇿 🇳🇦 🇳🇬 🇨🇬 🇷🇼 🇸🇨 🇸🇳 🇸🇴 🇸🇩 🇸🇱 🇹🇿 🇹🇬 🇹🇳 🇺🇬 🇨🇫 🇹🇩 🇬🇶 🇪🇷 🇸🇿 🇪🇹 🇿🇦 🇸🇸

To all our African friends and colleagues: till we meet again!

🎙 Russia’s President Vladimir Putin's answers to journalists’ questions following the Second #RussiaAfrica Summit

Key points

• The [Summit] atmosphere was very relaxed and friendly in every sense of the word. These people want to work with us. As for us, we must do everything to move in this direction, and this is what we will do.

• We have done a lot of good and useful things for Africa. When we contact African leaders and they say as much, we always have a feeling that we are good people. This is true in this case and it is very good.

• There is a lot of demand for working together on security matters. Africa still suffers from terrorism. This is a challenge for many regions and countries there. We know all too well that stability at home is a must in order to promote economic development, while there can be no stability without security. It is for this reason that they want to continue working with us and are sincere about it. This includes military-technical cooperation. Outside pressure has done nothing to scare them away.

• The African continent is extremely friendly and positive towards us. This is an important foundation we can use to build business relations as well.

#Ukraine

• Just like any peace initiative, this initiative is helpful because it is focused on finding a peaceful solution to the conflict. There are certain provisions of this peace initiative that are being implemented after our meeting in St Petersburg six weeks ago.

• You know this, I constantly speak about this. We have never rejected peace talks.

☝️ The conversation in general was long and constructive. I think we spoke for almost two hours. Every participant had a chance to share their opinion on the matter. I want to stress once again: we spoke from the position of friendship, trying to find realistic ways and opportunities to lower the tensions.

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🎙 Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s interview for the RT channel (Moscow, November 15, 2023)

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#MiddleEast

• The cessation of hostilities and stopping of violence, is of huge importance to the civilians, but in historical terms, in sustainable settlement terms the second aspect of this problem, which is much more important, the creation of the Palestinian state is unavoidable.

• Of course, these days, Washington is highly ideologized. And anything coming from Russia is taken as a hostile act, hostile initiative. But on substance, in practical terms, Washington doesn't want to tie Israel's hands.

• Americans say that some pro-Iranian armed groups in Syria and Iraq are trying to attack American military sites. This is reported by the media. There is nothing new in this because these groups believe that the presence of the United States in Syria is absolutely illegal and this is a statement of fact.

#RussiaAfrica

• The most popular topic at the 2nd #RussiaAfrica Summit was that Africa does not want any longer to be a very rich continent which does not enjoy the richness it possesses, like in the colonial times, when most of the resources are being pumped raw into developed countries and then processed and sold with huge profit.

#Eurasia

• The Eurasian continent, especially the Asian part of the Eurasian continent, becomes a powerhouse of the world economy. Integration structures existing in Eurasia established close links between themselves.

• Greater Eurasian Partnership must be open to all countries and organizations situated on the Eurasian continent, leaving the door open [even] to those who believe that they are masters of the universe.

#MultipolarWorld

• The process of shaping the new world order will take time. It might be a historic era, a whole historic era.

• The reform of the United Nations is a must, if only because multipolarity brought to the key positions many new players who are not now represented in the Security Council as permanent members.