Russia, African Countries Adopt Summit's Declaration, Joint Plan of Action, Putin Announces
17:57 28.07.2023 (Updated: 19:04 28.07.2023)
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On July 27-28, Russian "cultural capital" St. Petersburg has been hosting the second Russia-Africa Summit and Economic and Humanitarian Forum. African leaders, well-known politicians, members of regional associations, the media, organizations, and enterprises from all over the continent have attended this historic event.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and the African leaders on Friday adopted the final declaration of the second Russia-Africa Summit.
The action plan of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum for the period 2023-2026 and a number of other documents were also adopted.
In addition, a number of agreements, contracts and other documents related to various areas of cooperation between Russia and African countries were approved on the sidelines of the forum and the summit.
"We highly appreciate the results of our joint work at the summit. I am confident that the results achieved will form a good basis for further deepening the Russian-African partnership in the interests of prosperity and well-being of our peoples," the president stated.
He also stressed that the African leaders showed political will to cooperate with Russia.
The Russian president noted that a mechanism of dialogue partnership, as well as a mechanism for ensuring security, will operate between Russia and the African countries.
According to the president, Russia and the African nations have confirmed their position on the formation of a just and multipolar world order.
The president noted that during the summit, the parties identified the main directions for further joint work, outlined plans to strengthen foreign policy coordination, increase trade and investment flows of industrial cooperation between Russia and the countries of the continent.
"We talked about training highly professional personnel for African national economies, the main declaration of the second Russia-Africa summit and a number of thematic declarations were prepared and agreed upon - there is the prevention of an arms race in outer space, cooperation in the field of international information security, strengthening cooperation in the fight against terrorism," Putin said.
In addition, according to him, the action plan and the form of partnership "Russia-Africa" for the period 2023-2026 are ready for adoption.
"If, dear colleagues, there are no objections, let's consider these important documents adopted," Putin suggested to the participants.
The leader stressed that Russia and Africa have agreed to qualitatively and quantitatively increase trade, as well as switch to settlements in national currencies.
He added that Russia will continue to supply grain to the continent on a commercial basis and free of charge.
According to the president, the Russia-Africa Summit will be held every three years.
"The Sochi agreement has been confirmed to hold Russian-African summit meetings every three years. In the period between the Russia-Africa summits, the mechanism of dialogue partnership will operate, regular political consultations will continue through the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Russia, African countries and the leadership of the African Union," he said.
The president further noted that Russia will continue to cooperate with the African continent in the field of education, the quota of African students in Russian universities will increase.
"Cooperation in the field of education and training will continue, the number of African students studying in Russia will increase, including on a budget basis. By joint efforts, branches of leading Russian universities and secondary schools will be created in the African countries, including with teaching of a number of subjects in Russian. Relevant initiatives were considered in detail during the meetings," Putin elaborated.
Russian companies are open to the transfer of applied technologies in public administration and the banking sector to African countries, the Russian president outlined.
"Our companies are open to transferring applied technologies to African friends in public administration, banking and other sectors of the economy," Putin said.
According to the head of state, Russia and the African nations are planning to switch to national currencies in commercial transactions, including ruble.
"The goal is to qualitatively and quantitatively increase mutual trade, improve its structure. We are also talking about consistently switching to national currencies, including the ruble, in financial settlements for commercial transactions," he noted.
According to Vladimir Putin, such tasks are, among other things, laid down in a large-scale action plan until 2026.
Speaking of the Ukraine crisis, the president said he would raise the issue at a further meeting with visiting African leaders.
"Tonight, we will discuss the situation around Ukraine with African countries concerned. We’re establishing bilateral contacts with a number of African leaders," the leader stated.
Putin said he was pleased with the results of the summit, which was held in a "constructive and very friendly atmosphere."
