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First meeting of Public Council of Russia–Africa Partnership Forum Secretariat takes place

The first meeting of the Secretariat of the Russia–Africa Partnership Forum’s Public Council took place on 2 November. Among those taking part in the video conference were Oleg Ozerov, Ambassador-at-Large and Head of the Secretariat of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum; Evgeny Primakov, Head of the Public Council and Rossotrudnichestvo; Alexander Yakovenko, Rector of the Diplomatic Academy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation; a number of State Duma deputies; Armen Khachatryan, Programme Director at the Roscongress Foundation; figures from business and society; and religious leaders. The attendees examined a range of specific issues facing the Public Council as it looks to implement the decisions made at the inaugural Russia–Africa Summit, which took place in Sochi in October 2019. Preparations for the next high-level Russian-African meeting also came under the spotlight, with the future event aiming to focus on fostering and broadening humanitarian ties with countries across the continent.

Key aspects related to boosting cooperation between Russia and African nations were also discussed in detail, with culture, science, and public ties all being covered. The final declaration and other documents emerging from the first Russia–Africa Summit served as a basis for these discussions. Attendees also examined measures to improve the efficiency and fully unlock the potential of a system put in place to aid interaction between Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Rossotrudnichestvo, the Russkiy Mir Foundation, various stakeholders, public organizations, youth organizations, and sporting organizations. In addition, the participants looked at ways of developing religious ties with African nations.

The Secretariat of the Russia–Africa Partnership Forum was established under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation. Its Public Council aims to further strengthen humanitarian ties with African nations. In order for this to happen, members of the meeting stressed the importance of coordinating actions from the Russian side in an efficient manner.

“We highly value the results of our joint work at the summit. I am sure the achieved results are creating a good foundation for further deepening the Russia-Africa partnership in the interests of our nations’ prosperity and wellbeing.”

President of the Russian Federation
Vladimir Putin

The Russia–Africa Summit, which is taking place in Sochi on 23–24 October 2019, encapsulates the historically friendly relations between the African continent and the Russian Federation. This Summit carries great significance as it is the first of its kind to emerge during a period of major global and international transformations. In response to the aspirations of the people it is representing, the Summit intends to build a comprehensive framework for expanding Russian–African relations into broader horizons of joint cooperation across different fields.

The African nations and Russia share a common understanding of international relations, based on the principles of respect for the rule of international law, equality, non-interference in the internal affairs of states, and the peaceful resolution of disputes. Both sides affirm their commitment to support multilateral actions to oppose new international threats, be they terrorism and extremism in all their forms, or declining growth rates. The two sides share a firm conviction regarding the importance of developing trade flows and supporting mutual investment in such a way as to ensure security, peace and development for the African and Russian people.

African countries have huge potential and opportunities that will allow them, once efforts to streamline their economies have been achieved, to emerge as real global players. In recent years, the nations of this continent have achieved major successes spanning the political, economic, social and administrative spheres. Africa has flourished in terms of growth over the past decade, reaching a continent-wide growth rate of 3.55% in 2018.

The African Union Summit, which was held in Niger in July 2019, continued the efforts of the African countries and saw the African Continental Free Trade Agreement come into force, along with its operational instruments. The agreement is one of the key objectives of Agenda 2063, an African development strategy that has been created to address the African people’s desire for prosperity and decent living standards.

These successes are opening up wide-ranging prospects for cooperation between African countries and the Russian Federation, and confirm the determination of African governments and their people to cooperate with multiple partners in order to establish mutually beneficial relations.

With this in mind, we express our hopes that the Russia–Africa Summit will help in the establishment of constructive strategic relations, based on partnership between two sides across various fields, and in the service of fulfilling the hopes and aspirations of the African people and their friends in Russia.

President of the Arab Republic of Egypt
Abdelfattah ALSISI