Second Summit
Russia–Africa Economic and Humanitarian Forum

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4th Russia–Africa: What’s Next? Forum to be held in Moscow

The 4th Russia–Africa: What’s Next? Forum will be held at MGIMO University of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation from 22 to 25 April 2025 with the support of the Roscongress Foundation. The Forum is a unique platform for promoting fruitful cooperation between Russia and Africa and maintaining open dialogue on a level playing field. The event is aimed at developing dialogue between the young people of Russia and Africa, promoting African studies, and cultivating a positive image of Russia on the continent. The programme will be attended by Russian and African officials and leading representatives of the business and expert community, development institutions, and the media.

“Russia believes Africa is unique, it is the continent of the future developing rapidly even now, and we consistently advocate for strengthening its position in the multipolar world order, for uniting the independent voice of Africans to be heard and reckoned with on the international stage. We are pleased to note the significant progress our African friends have made in national development, possible in large part thanks to the significant involvement of young people in political, economic, and humanitarian processes,” Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Sergey Lavrov said.

The Russia–Africa: What’s Next? Youth Forum, first held in the autumn of 2021, has grown to become a reliable platform for exchanging views and experience, bringing the representatives of 42 African states together with their Russian counterparts, ministers, diplomats, and representatives of business and academia. The Forum organizers are also involved in preparing the Russia–Africa Economic and Humanitarian Forum and other Russia-Africa events.

The event programme will uncover key aspects of interaction between Russia and Africa in the form of open discussions, roundtables, and creative brainstorming sessions. Sports and cultural events have been planned on the sidelines and will immerse participants in the unique atmosphere, diversity, and charm of Africa.

Included in the event for the first time is the Russia–Africa Young Diplomats Forum, which is being held with the support of the Council of Young Diplomats of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Registration for the events ends on 6 April 2025.

Link to register: forms.gle/9tpaCxNHrPRjHzYo8.

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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