Russia's cooperation with African countries is reaching a qualitatively new level. The second Russia-Africa summit is taking place at a moment of a radical turning point in the development of the entire system of international relations, Oleg Ozerov, Ambassador-at-Large of the Russian Foreign Ministry, said.
"It is clear that our cooperation with the African continent is reaching a qualitatively new level... Some might say that this is a fundamentally new quality of cooperation, because now we are not talking about Russia helping to establish the independence and statehood of African states [as in the days of the Soviet union] ... We are talking about the development of equal and mutually beneficial relations between Russia and African countries," Ozerov said at the round table hosted by Rossiya Segodnya media center.
According to the diplomat, the Second Russia-Africa summit is "taking place at a moment of a radical change in the development of the entire system of international relations."
The world order is transitioning from a "monopolar to a multipolar world, to a system in which there will be no dictates of one force, one side, one bloc of states," he added.
Earlier, George Sebulela, an entrepreneur, founder of the African United Business Confederation, co-chairman of the African-Russian Energy Association, told Sputnik that the economic potential of African countries rich in unique resources is huge, but their development is hindered by the colonial policy of the West.
"The economic potential of the region is huge. Africa is rich in unique resources, but at the same time, a paradox arises - with all the wealth of natural resources, the countries of the continent remain relatively poor," he said.
According to him, this is primarily due to "the colonial policy of Western countries, which still continues to have a strong influence on the economy of the region."
"Just imagine what would happen if African countries themselves began to produce goods, and not only extract resources," he added.
The main task at this stage, from Sebulela's point of view, is to create infrastructure and develop own production, meet the needs of the continent within the free trade zone and export goods, not raw materials, to the world market at competitive prices.
The second summit and the Russia-Africa Economic Forum will be held on July 27-28, 2023 in St. Petersburg. Sputnik is the media partner of the event.