President Vladimir Putin told the plenary session of the third Russia-Africa Summit in that Russia and African countries shared very similar positions on major global issues, speaking in Moscow on Thursday.
“It is… gratifying that the positions of Russia and African countries on the most pressing issues of global politics are largely close or coincide. We stand for an equal dialogue and for taking into account the interests of all states,” Putin said.
He described Russia and Africa as ‘natural allies’ in building a multipolar world order based on international law and the principles of the UN Charter, while calling for greater African representation in global decision-making bodies, including the UN Security Council and international financial institutions.
Putin also highlighted expanding economic ties, saying Russia-Africa trade exceeded $27 billion last year and had grown by one and a half times since the previous summit.
Moscow was also ready to deepen co-operation in agriculture, digital technologies and artificial intelligence, he said, while continuing to supply grain and fertilisers to African markets and share Russian expertise with countries across the continent.
The Third Russia-Africa Summit on October 28-29 brings together African leaders and Russian officials to discuss political and economic co-operation, security, science and technology, as well as cultural and humanitarian ties.
Source: Viory
