Putin Calls for Expanded Russia–Africa Cooperation and Regular Summits

Dragon Media News Desk

Russian President Vladimir Putin said the third Russia–Africa Summit would give fresh momentum to cooperation between the two sides. At a press conference on October 29, he said 21 African leaders and high-level delegations from most countries on the continent had attended.

According to Putin, the summit approved an action plan for the Russia–Africa Partnership Forum for 2027–2029. The plan sets goals for expanding cooperation in economic, trade, social and humanitarian fields and increasing mutual imports and exports. He said trade between Russia and African countries had reached $27 billion and could grow further.

Putin said the Moscow Declaration adopted at the summit reaffirmed a commitment to a multipolar world order based on international law and the UN Charter. He said Russia supported African countries’ aspiration to play a larger role in international decision-making, including representation on the UN Security Council. How Africa should be represented, he said, was for African countries to decide. The participants agreed to continue holding regular summits.

Putin identified grain supplies, agricultural technology, education, health and nuclear energy as potential areas for cooperation. He said Russia would continue grain exports and free food assistance to Africa, expand study opportunities for African students at Russian universities, and support efforts to combat infectious diseases through medicines, mobile laboratories and joint exercises. He also said Russian nuclear energy companies were ready to build more projects in Africa.

On relations with Europe, Putin said Russia was open to dialogue but did not want a war with Europe. He said neither side would win such a conflict. Russia did not want tensions in the Baltic Sea, he added, and supported compliance with international maritime law.