Lavrov discusses trade, economic, investment, humanitarian cooperation with African counterparts

MOSCOW. Nov 8 (Interfax) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov met with his counterparts from Namibia, Burundi, and Equatorial Guinea on the sidelines of the first ministerial conference of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum, the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

Lavrov's talks with Namibian Foreign Minister Peya Mushelenga were focused on ways to bolster relations between Moscow and Windhoek. The two foreign policy chiefs reaffirmed the determination of their countries to expand multifaceted ties, including political dialogue and broader cooperation in the trade, economic, investment, and humanitarian sectors, the ministry said in a statement on its website.

Lavrov and Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister Simeon Oyono Esono Angue of Equatorial Guinea discussed the implementation of joint projects involving Russian economic operators. The ministers "agreed to have closer coordination between the two countries' fundamental approaches at the UN and in other collective formats while exploring solutions to global and regional problems," the ministry said.

Lavrov and Burundian Foreign Minister Albert Shingiro discussed bilateral relations with an emphasis placed on the need to intensify trade, economic, and investment partnership and step up cooperation in the education and humanitarian fields. They also signed a memorandum of understanding and political consultations, it said.