Participation of many countries in the Russia–Africa Summit in St Petersburg shows their desire to strengthen relations with Moscow despite current circumstances, Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov said on Tuesday, adding that 49 African nations out of 54 will present at the summit.
"Despite the opposition of the Western countries, despite their pressure, sometimes very harsh [pressure], we still manage to hold the second Russia–Africa Summit in this situation and, of course, the participation of the Africans confirms their desire to strengthen ties with our country, no matter what the circumstances" Ushakov told reporters.
According to the aide, Russian President Vladimir Putin will hold talks with the Prime Minister of Ethiopia, the heads of the BRICS New Development Bank, and the President of Egypt on July 26.
"In addition, it is very important that literally all the leaders of the leading regional organizations in Africa will be present," Ushakov said.
In particular, he referred to such organizations as the African Union, the East African Community, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, the New Partnership for Africa's Development, the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa, the Southern African Development Community, the Economic Community of Central African States, the Economic Community of West African States, the Arab Maghreb Union, and the African Export-Import Bank.
Ushakov stated that Putin will hold a working breakfast with heads of regional organizations of African countries on Thursday.
"After the plenary session of the economic forum [of the Russia–Africa Summit], on the afternoon of July 27, Putin will hold a working breakfast with the heads of regional organizations of the African countries," he said.
Putin's assistant added that the Russian leader will deliver a major speech at the plenary session of the Russia–Africa Summit on Friday, noting that 17 African leaders will attend the session. He also said that Putin is going to meet separately with each of the 17 leaders.
"The summit on July 28 will consist of two parts: at the first plenary session, our president will speak and all the heads of 17 states will speak," Ushakov stated.
After that, another plenary session in a form of working lunch will take place, attended by vice presidents and ministers of various African countries, according to Ushakov.
"Our president will make a big statement, assess the current state of the system of international relations, including the formation of a new world order based on the principle of multipolarity and equality of all independent states," he said.
It was noted that after the end of the summit, Putin will discuss the situation in Ukraine during a working lunch with African leaders on Friday. He stated that this means that the discussion that took place last month in St. Petersburg will continue, and the exchange of views on the settlement of the Ukrainian crisis will continue in connection with the corresponding initiative of a number of African countries.
According to the Kremlin aide, a declaration will be adopted after the Russia–Africa Summit this week and it will outline approaches to the development of cooperation of countries.
"At the end of the summit, it is planned to adopt a final declaration, which will include coordinated approaches to the development of Russian-African cooperation, deepening the interaction of the international level," Ushakov told reporters.
Separate thematic declarations will also be adopted, in particular, on cooperation in ensuring international information security, on strengthening cooperation in the fight against terrorism, and on ending the arms race in outer space. The joint documents, according to Ushakov, have mostly been agreed upon and will be published on the Kremlin's website.
In addition, the action plan of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum for the period 2023-2026 will be approved.