Russia has long supported African countries in the political field, and these strong ties in politics may eventually transform into better cooperation in the economic sphere, especially in the light of the upcoming summit, Uriat Cham Ugala, Ethiopia's ambassador to Russia, said in an interview with Sputnik Africa.
"The strong political relations and political ties between Africa and Russia will be transformed to economic activity," he said, commenting on the importance of the Russia-Africa Summit, scheduled to take place in St. Petersburg this month.
The diplomat recalled that Russia has long been at Africa's side, referring in particular to the Soviet Union's support for countries struggling against colonialism.
He highlighted that Russia continues to support African nations on the global arena, and the summit is another manifestation of the country's commitment to maintain "decent relationship" with the continent. He expressed his hope that the summit will be particularly important in terms of enhancing economic relations.
The ambassador emphasized that the gathering is taking place at the most important time, when the global architecture is rapidly changing and the future of the world's nations is entirely in their hands. In this regard, African countries and Russia "need to work together", as there are numerous factors that bring them together and make their partnership the most desirable.
Talking about the event he attended at the Rossiya Segodnya building, he noted that these kinds of initiatives are significant for both Ethiopia and Russia as they are seen as platforms that provide an opportunity for the countries to get to know each other better, learn more about each other's interests and aspirations.
The second Russia–Africa Summit and Economic Forum will be held on July 27-28 in St. Petersburg. The event is aimed at strengthening comprehensive and balanced cooperation between Russia and African countries.