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Second Summit
Russia–Africa Economic and Humanitarian Forum

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Joint Statement Political consultations of foreign ministers of Russia and the African Union

1. The first annual Political Consultations of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation H.E.Mr.Sergey Lavrov and the Foreign Ministers of the African Union «Troika» Member-States, acting as the present, former and future Chairpersons of the African Union (Republic of South Africa, H.E.Ms.Naledi Pandor; Arab Republic of Egypt, H.E.Mr.Sameh Shoukri; and Democratic Republic of Congo, H.E.Ms.Marie Tumba Nzeza) were held as a videoconference on 8 July 2020. The consultations were conducted within the framework of the launched dialogue mechanism of Russia–Africa Partnership Forum that had been established as an outcome of Russia–Africa Summit in Sochi on 23-24 October 2019. The heads of a number of national line organizations and government bodies also took part in the consultations.

2. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation briefed the participants on the main objectives of the Secretariat of Russia–Africa Partnership Forum launched under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, that include general coordination of Russia–Africa interaction during the preparations to the Summits, boosting of business links between the Russian and African companies, and development of joint roadmaps of economic, academic, and cultural dimensions of Russia–Africa cooperation.

3. The Ministers noted the importance of establishing close cooperation between the Secretariat of Russia–Africa Partnership Forum and the Foreign Services of the African countries and the secretariats of the African Regional Economic Communities.

4. The Ministers discussed the modalities and ways to boost Russia–Africa industrial cooperation both bilaterally and through Regional Economic Communities

5. The Ministers expressed grave concern over COVID-19 ongoing spread of around the world and its consequences. They noted the importance of boosted international cooperation in fighting epidemics, pandemics and other public health issues. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation confirmed Russia’s willingness to continue its efforts to grant relevant assistance to the countries of the African continent fighting COVID-19 pandemic, both bilaterally and multilaterally.

6. The Ministers confirmed that the Second Russia–Africa Summit is to be held on the African continent in 2022. They decided that its concrete dates and venue would be agreed during their next political consultations, after the 2022 African Union Chair becomes known.

7. The Ministers stressed the importance and topicality of the 60th Anniversary of UN Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples of 14 December 1960.

8. The Ministers confirmed the significance of the principle of equality and self-identification of peoples, resolutely opposed the contemporary forms and practices of xenophobia, racism, neocolonialism, and Nazism.

9.                                                   The Ministers agreed to hold the second annual Political Consultations of Foreign Ministers of the Russian Federation and the African Union «Troika» Member-States in 2021.

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“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