The photo published by the Kremlin on Oct. 24, 2019 shows heads of delegations attending the Russia-Africa Summit.
The summit was an indicator of "a reconsideration of relations" between Russia and Africa and a change in them.
SOCHI, Russia, Oct. 24 (Xinhua) -- Russian and African leaders expressed readiness to strengthen economic, trade and security cooperation at the first Russia-Africa Summit that concluded here on Thursday.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and top officials from more than 40 African countries explored areas of further cooperation during the two-day event held simultaneously with an economic forum in the Black Sea resort city of Sochi.
During roundtable discussions on Thursday, Putin said Russia prioritizes developing relations with African countries and organizations, and he proposed holding the Russia-Africa Summit every three years and the foreign ministers' meeting annually.
DOUBLING TRADE
At the plenary session of the economic forum, Putin called on Russia and Africa to double bilateral trade to over 40 billion U.S. dollars in the next four to five years.
Integration processes developing in Africa represent additional opportunities for cooperation between Russia and Africa, he said, adding that Russia will do its utmost to link African free trade zones with the Eurasian Economic Union through expanding trade missions and providing support to businesses.
African countries are attracting more attention from Russian businesses and Moscow will support Russian companies that plan to increase their presence in the continent, Putin said.
"The development of close business ties meets our common interests, contributes to the sustainable growth of all our states, helps to improve the quality of people's lives and solves numerous social problems," he said.
On the sidelines of the summit, Putin met with presidents of South Africa, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Nigeria, as well as chairman of Sudan's Sovereign Council and prime minister of Ethiopia, with both sides pledging to boost economic and trade ties.
MAJOR PROJECTS
In a meeting with Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi, Putin said Russia plans to invest 190 million dollars in infrastructure development projects and to attract up to 7 billion dollars.
Sisi said his country wants to accelerate the implementation of the Russian Industrial Zone in the Suez Canal Economic Zone and speed up the construction of a nuclear power plant in Egypt.
At talks with Namibian President Hage Geingob, Putin said exploration of mineral resources, particularly Namibia's uranium, can become an important part of bilateral cooperation.
Geingob said his country welcomes foreign partners in the uranium industry.
Russia and Ethiopia signed an intergovernmental agreement on cooperation in the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.
The document laid the legal groundwork for cooperation between the two countries along the entire nuclear energy industrial chain and the possible construction of a center for nuclear science and technology in Ethiopia.
SECURITY PROMISE
Putin said Russia as a permanent member of the UN Security Council will continue to work in the international community to strengthen peace and stability in Africa and to ensure regional security.
He said that Russia considers it important to build up joint efforts in the fight against terrorism and extremism, as the development of the African continent is hindered by terrorism, spread of extremist ideology, transnational crime and piracy.
To that end, Moscow plans to intensify contacts between law enforcement agencies and special services of Russia and African countries, coordinate efforts and exchange relevant information, Putin said.
Russia will continue to train military personnel and law enforcement officers for African countries and provide the countries with a wide range of weapons and equipment, part of them for free, he said.
Russia plans to deliver 4 billion dollars worth of weapons to Africa in 2019, including airborne arms, air defense equipment, armored carriers, small arms and antitank missiles, said Alexander Mikheev, Director General of the Russian state arms exporter Rosoboronexport on Wednesday in Sochi.
Russia is implementing contracts on military equipment deliveries to 20 African countries, including Uganda, Rwanda, Mozambique and Angola, he added.
"In the 1990s, many ties with African countries were lost. Now we are witnessing a process of restoring them," said Igor Gerasimov, professor at St. Petersburg State University.
The summit was an indicator of "a reconsideration of relations" between Russia and Africa and a change in them, he said, adding that politics now in Moscow has become much more pragmatic than in the Soviet era as economic interests are pursued. ■
