Russia and Namibia are interested in increasing trade and investment in a wide range of economic sectors, from mineral resources extraction to energy and health care, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Tuesday.
"Unfortunately, bilateral trade is still very modest. We confirmed today our mutual interest in expanding trade and implementing investment projects," Lavrov told a news conference after a meeting in Moscow with Namibian Foreign Minister Peya Mushelenga.
He identified such potential areas of cooperation as joint exploration, extraction and processing of mineral resources, including uranium and diamonds, as well as energy, agriculture, fisheries, health care, personnel training, culture, tourism and sports.
Lavrov said he expected his Namibian counterpart to attend the Russian-African foreign ministers’ meeting in the Black Sea resort of Sochi in fall that will follow up on last year's Russia-Africa summit in St. Petersburg. Sochi also hosted the inaugural summit in 2019.
"Per decision of the St. Petersburg summit, we will host a foreign ministers' meeting. It will take place in Russia this fall, and I expect our Namibian friends to accept our invitation," the top Russian diplomat told reporters.
Lavrov thanked the Namibian foreign minister for the condolences that the southern African country's government offered to the victims of last week's terrorist attack on the Crocus City Hall near Moscow, which claimed at least 139 lives.