Press Release on the “Russia-Africa” Panel Session during the SPIEF-2019

07.06.2019

On June 7, 2019, the “Russia-Africa” Panel Session was held with the Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov and Botswana Minister of International Affairs and Cooperation of the Republic of Botswana U. Dow attending

The was held on June 7, 2019, during the XXIII St. Peterburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) with the Special Representative of the President of the Russian Federation for the Middle East and African countries, Deputy Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation Mikhail Bogdanov, the Member of the Board (Minister) for Integration and Macroeconomics of Eurasian Economic Commission Tatiana Valovya, the representatives of several other Russian Ministries and Agencies, scientific, business and social sectors attending it. African countries were represented by the Vice-President of the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire Daniel Kablan Duncun, the Minister of International Affairs and Cooperation of the Republic of Botswana U. Dow, the Chairperson of the Ntlo ya Dikgosi Kgosi P. Gaborone, other Ministers and Heads of delegations of African countries and African Union who arrived at the SPIEF-2019 as well as the Ambassadors accredited to Moscow.

In his speech M. Bogdanov emphasised that 2019 is going to be a special year for the history of the Russia-Africa relations which have significantly increased recently. The point was made that the first full-format “Russia-Africa” summit would take place in Sochi in October 2019 where the several bilateral and multilateral agreements were expected to sign.

The participants discussed in detail the current state of Russia's partnership with the countries of the African continent and the prospects for its strengthening with emphasis put on the search for the rapid and systematic development of the entire range of political, economic and humanitarian cooperation.