A consulate of the Republic of South Africa has been opened in the city of Ekaterinburg, the fourth-largest city in Russia, a Sputnik correspondent reported.
Earlier, on April 28, Sergey Mazurkevich, General Director of the Ural Mining Metallurgical Company LLC (UMMC), was appointed Honorary Consul of South Africa in Ekaterinburg.
The South African Consulate is located in the building of the Panorama business center.
South African Ambassador to Russia and Belarus Mzuvukile Jeff Maqetuka told reporters that the possibilities of opening an honorary consulate in this region are enormous as opportunities are opening up between the two countries, noting that the appointment of Mazurkevich is quite a milestone.
"There are many similarities between South Africa and Russia. I am honored to have such a title and we will do our best to develop interstate relations," Mazurkevich said.
Alexander Kharlov, the representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry in Ekaterinburg, noted that South Africa is a unique country with 11 official languages and that the task of the new consulate in the Urals is to show the potential of both countries.
In addition to the official part of the consulate opening, there was also a "musical break" where the South African jazz band Claude Booysen, based in Ekaterinburg, entertained the guests.
The new consulate in Ekaterinburg is the third South African consulate to be opened in Russia, the other two being in St. Petersburg in the north and Vladivostok in the far east.
In another development aimed at strengthening cooperation between Russia and African countries, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin earlier this week ordered the establishment of a trade mission to Nigeria later this year.