Somalia is eager to increase its trade volume with Russia, despite currently limited commercial relations between the two countries, Somalia's Foreign Minister, Ahmed Moalim Fiqi, told Sputnik.
Speaking on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly high-level week, the minister acknowledged that the current trade ties are "not extensive," but emphasized the entrepreneurial spirit of the Somali people and their global connections.
"We don't have much trade, but Somalis are a very entrepreneurial people, so they have a connection with the whole world," Fiqi affirmed. "We are definitely ready to increase the volume of bilateral trade with Russia."
The top Somali diplomat also confirmed that Somalia will take part in the next Russia-Africa summit.
"We have an Africa-Russia Summit at the end of this year, and we are going there. Maybe we'll meet the officials," he said.
In addition, Fiqi noted that the cost of food, among many other things, has been very negatively affected in Somalia as a result of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. He stressed that the resolution of the conflict lies in negotiations and dialogue.
"The solution [to the conflict in Ukraine] is dialogue; the solution is to sit down together and to solve this problem with the dialogue," he stated, noting that no one can force others to do anything.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said in June that Russia would cease fire and start talks with Ukraine as soon as Kiev withdrew troops from Russia-controlled regions and abandoned plans to join NATO. The Kiev regime, supported by Western countries, rejected the proposal, calling it an ultimatum.
The 79th annual session of the UN General Assembly convened on Tuesday, with the high-level week taking place from September 24-28 and September 30.