Russia-Africa Summit: President Putin Calls for Stronger Economic Cooperation with African Countries

Political, diplomatic and economic activities are continuing in Moscow on the second and final day of the third Russia-Africa Summit. According to international media reports, delegations from 48 African countries are participating in the summit, with 22 countries represented by their heads of state. Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that mutual trade between Russia and African countries has increased by 50 percent since 2022, exceeding $27 billion.

The summit’s main sessions are being held at the Grand Kremlin Palace on Thursday, October 29. Participants include Russian President Vladimir Putin, African Union Chairperson and Burundi’s President Évariste Ndayishimiye, as well as other African heads of state and senior delegations. Discussions are focusing on the global political and economic situation, international security, the establishment of a multipolar world order, and ways to expand future cooperation between Russia and African countries. The main programme includes two plenary sessions and a working breakfast at which the heads of African delegations are presenting their countries’ positions.

The summit began on Wednesday, October 28, with an economic and humanitarian cooperation forum at Moscow’s historic Gostiny Dvor. Addressing the opening session, President Putin said that a multipolar world order was taking shape and that African countries were playing an important role in global politics and the economy. He criticized unilateral sanctions, economic pressure and colonial-style practices, calling for stronger cooperation with African countries based on equality, sovereignty and mutual respect. During a meeting with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi on the sidelines of the summit, Putin highlighted growing trade ties between Russia and African countries. He said bilateral trade had increased by 50 percent since 2022, surpassing $27 billion. He added that Egypt accounted for a significant share of Russia’s overall trade with African countries.

The two-day forum is addressing cooperation in a wide range of sectors, including trade, investment, energy, agriculture, industry, minerals, transport, healthcare, education and advanced technology. The program includes more than 40 business and thematic sessions, where representatives of Russian and African companies are discussing joint projects, investment opportunities and ways to expand economic ties.

On the second day, President Putin is also scheduled to hold bilateral meetings with various African leaders, including those from Burundi, Namibia, Kenya, Sudan, Madagascar and Zimbabwe. The talks are expected to cover political relations, trade, investment, energy and other matters of mutual interest. According to Yuri Ushakov, an aide to the Russian president, the summit is expected to result in the signing of 33 intergovernmental and interagency documents, memorandums of understanding and commercial agreements relating to cooperation across various economic and development sectors. At the conclusion of the summit, participants are also expected to approve a joint declaration on Russia-Africa cooperation, a separate declaration on cooperation in artificial intelligence, and an action plan for the Russia-Africa partnership covering 2027 to 2029.

Following the signing ceremony, President Putin and Burundi’s president are scheduled to hold a joint media briefing to present the summit’s outcomes. The first Russia-Africa Summit was held in Sochi in 2019, followed by the second in St. Petersburg in July 2023. The third summit, currently taking place in Moscow, is part of broader efforts to strengthen political, economic, commercial and diplomatic cooperation between Russia and African countries.