Putin affirms special significance of friendly relations with Africa for Russia
MOSCOW. May 25 (Interfax) - Russian President Vladimir Putin has affirmed the special significance invariably attached by Russia to the strengthening of relations with Africa and has expressed confidence that the 2nd Russia-Africa summit planned for July will help broaden cooperation with African partners.
"Russia has always attached special significance to the strengthening of friendly relations with African partners. The first Russia-Africa summit in history, held in 2019, gave a boost to our relations on numerous tracks. I have no doubt that the 2nd Russia-Africa summit due in St. Petersburg in July will help set new objectives for broadening constructive cooperation between our country and African partners in the political, trade, economic, scientific, technical, humanitarian and other fields," Putin said in his greetings to African heads of state and government on Africa Day. The greetings were published on the Kremlin's website on Thursday.
"I will be glad to see African leaders in St. Petersburg," Putin said.
"The 60th anniversary of the Organization of African Unity is observed this year. This representative international body has played an important role in the development of multilateral dialogue and cooperation for decades. Today, the African Union carries on its good traditions within the framework of which all countries of the continent are actively cooperating. Their joint efforts have helped establish mechanisms of collective response to local crises and to launch regional integration processes in various formats. No doubt, this contributes to the socioeconomic development of Africa and raises its role in global affairs," the greetings said.