Russia summit – Africa was held in Sochi, Russia 23-24 October. “economy today” It summarizes the main results of this unprecedented event.
The first-ever summit in Russia format – Africa was held in Sochi 23 by 24 October. The participants of the summit were President Vladimir Putin, Heads of State and Government 43 (of 54) Africa, 120 Ministers and representatives of more than six thousand 104 State of the world, including the US, Canada, Australia and the leading countries of Europe.
A key objective of the summit was the release of Russian cooperation and partnership with African countries to a qualitatively new level. As President Putin noted in the final speech, This goal was successfully achieved: the Sochi event opened a new chapter in relations between Moscow and the continent of Africa, and the atmosphere at the summit was “businesslike and friendly, if not the soul”.
Russia summit – Africa: the main results
Following two days of the summit of the Russian Federation – Africa declaration has been approved, signed by all the members of the highest level. According to Vladimir Putin, it spelled out the purpose of further development of cooperation between Russia and the African continent in all key areas, including policy, economic, health, trade, education and culture. Also, Russia and African countries agreed on joint opposition to dictate and blackmail individual states in such areas, as foreign and monetary policy.
For two days, Russia and African countries have signed over 500 contracts, memoranda and other agreements, which exceeds the sum of 800 billion rubles, as reported by the advisor to the Russian leader Anton Kobyakov. In addition to the practical, summit has an absolute value of the historical: According to Putin, the participants decided to meet in the format of the Partnership Forum every three years (one by one in Russia and one of the African countries).
As Russia is cooperating with African countries
Putin said that Russia and the growth of trade turnover in Africa 2018 year 17% and exceeding the target of 20 billion. He considers feasible the goal of doubling this figure in a few years because of the high rate of development of cooperation between Russia and the continent. Another example of, as the developing partnership, the president called a large number of students from Africa in Russian universities (the number of all time was about half a million). Important for cooperation, Putin called Russian assistance to stabilize the situation in a number of countries and regions in Africa, economic and humanitarian support for its countries. Total, he noted, Moscow wrote off African States 20 billion of debt for all time.
The most striking example of Russia and recently Africa cooperation is cooperation of Russia with the Central African Republic (CAR). The forum presented the president of this country Faustin-Arcanjo Tuadera, which he meets Putin. Tuadera called Russian major partner in Africa, which helps them to overcome the problems and challenges. CAR itself intensively developing partnership with Russia in trade, education and defense sector (The latest issue was discussed in Sochi on the level of military departments).
At the talks with Putin recalled Tuaderoy, that Russia was among the first to recognize the independence of the republic. Moscow also played a crucial role in stabilizing the situation in the Central African Republic: with the assistance of Russia in February 2019 , the Khartoum Peace Agreement was approved, which became the basis for the formation of a new government and a de-escalation.
The international significance of Russian Summit – Africa
In addition to bilateral agreements, the summit in Sochi took a number of decisions, positive influence on the international situation. So, it was decided to deepen the partnership with African countries and the BRICS EAEC, participants are Russian, thereby enhancing the multipolarity of the modern world. The summit was attended by heads of regional and All-African integration associations (including the African Union), with which Moscow agreed to intensify mutually beneficial dialogue.
Besides, Russia and African states have agreed on joint efforts to combat international terrorism, information security, UN reform, including its Security Council,, non-proliferation of nuclear weapons and countering the militarization of space, planned by individual countries of the West. A separate item in the final declaration was an agreement on the rejection of unilateral economic sanctions and military interventions, abuse than some states.
Russia summit – Africa: interesting points
Two days of the summit of the Russian Federation - Africa remember the journalists and the public a number of interesting points. So, at the plenary session of the second day of the forum 24 October word got each of the more 40 leaders, what, as does the summit, It was unprecedented.
One of the most memorable was the statements by President Putin joke about a 28-place of Russia in the ranking of Doing Business-2020. When this was announced by the President of Mauritius, Russian leader joked, that he “behaving immodestly”, as the Russian took place in his country, which, in its turn, He climbed to 13th place.
earlier “economy today” I wrote about the interesting moments of the first day of the summit Russia – Africa. Friendly and warm atmosphere in Sochi helped create not only a mutual desire for cooperation, but also thought-out to the smallest detail to provide a forum, make the meeting of different cultures vibrant and original.
Grigory Egorov
