Russian President Vladimir Putin is scheduled to deliver a speech at the plenary session of the Russia-Africa Economic and Humanitarian Forum in St. Petersburg today. In addition to this, he will engage in separate meetings with various African leaders during the summit.
The first Russia-Africa summit and forum took place in Sochi in 2019, and the second edition will be held on July 27-28 at St. Petersburg's Expoforum, continuing the motto "For Peace, Security and Development." The summit's conclusion is expected to include a final declaration, outlining the mutually agreed approaches to foster Russian-African cooperation and enhance collaboration in the global arena. Preceding the summit, on July 24, Russian President Vladimir Putin's policy article titled "Russia and Africa: Joining Efforts for Peace, Progress and a Successful Future" was published.
First contacts
The program of the Russia-Africa summit kicked off a day prior on Wednesday, with Putin engaging in discussions at the Konstantinovsky Palace in Strelna with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and New BRICS Development Bank Chief Dilma Roussef.
The series of meetings will persist on Thursday morning before the forum's plenary session, during which Putin will hold conversations with African Union Chairman and President of the Union of the Comoros Azali Assoumani, as well as African Union Commission Chairman Moussa Faki Mahamat.
Russian initiatives
The plenary session of the Russia-Africa Economic and Humanitarian Forum is scheduled for Thursday, followed by the plenary session of the summit on Friday.
As per presidential aide Yuri Ushakov, during the plenary session, the Russian leader will deliver a significant speech assessing the current state of the international relations system, including the formation of a new world order. The focus will be on the prospects for further developing relations between Russia and Africa, with an emphasis on Russia's support for the sovereign development of African countries and ensuring equitable access to food, fertilizers, modern technologies and energy resources. Additionally, some Russian initiatives in this area will also be presented.
It was reported that the chairperson of the African Union will participate in the plenary session of the forum alongside Putin, with the moderation being handled by Irina Abramova, Director of the Institute of Africa of the Russian Academy of Sciences.
Meetings with guests
Today, President Putin has a busy schedule of meetings with various guests attending the Russia-Africa Economic and Humanitarian Forum in St. Petersburg. In the morning, he is set to have a working breakfast with the heads of regional organizations from Africa.
The bilateral meetings with African leaders will not be limited to just the official days of the forum and the Russia-Africa summit, which are Thursday and Friday, respectively. Putin will continue these meetings on Saturday, July 29.
Moreover, several African leaders are expected to stay in St. Petersburg for an additional day to participate in the Main Naval Parade on Sunday, July 30, which celebrates Navy Day.
According to Yuri Ushakov, a total of 17 heads of state from Africa are expected to attend the summit, and President Putin plans to meet with each of them individually. In total, delegations from 49 African countries will be present in St. Petersburg for the event.
On Thursday, President Putin is scheduled to meet with leaders from Mozambique, Burundi, Zimbabwe, Uganda and Eritrea, among others.
In the evening, there will be a formal ceremony to welcome the heads of state and delegations attending the summit, followed by a gala reception.
Agreements, contracts and declarations
"We are anticipating a highly active and productive summit in the days ahead," stated Dmitry Peskov, the Russian presidential spokesman, during a briefing with reporters. While some African leaders were unable to attend the St. Petersburg summit due to scheduling conflicts, the number of participants was also influenced by "unconcealed, brazen interference by the United States, France and other states," which exerted pressure on African country leaderships. Peskov called this interference "outrageous," but stressed that it would not hinder the successful organization of the summit.
Meanwhile, Yuri Ushakov noted that Moscow has high hopes of signing agreements, contracts and other significant documents during the forum, aiming to enhance cooperation between Russia and African nations across various sectors.
Furthermore, in addition to the final document of the summit, thematic declarations are expected to be adopted, focusing on areas such as international information security, strengthening cooperation in the fight against terrorism, and preventing an arms race in outer space. Additionally, the action plan of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum for the period of 2023-2026 is slated for approval during the summit.
Business and cultural program
The Russia-Africa summit features a comprehensive business program comprising four major thematic blocks, encompassing key areas of collaboration between Russia and African nations: economy, security, sovereign development, science and technology, as well as humanitarian and social spheres. Alongside the summit, various supplementary events such as a media forum, a congress of university rectors, a round table with the participation of the highest audit bodies of Russia and African countries, and activities within the youth program are scheduled. Additionally, a dedicated "healthy society" program, focusing on medical cooperation, is set to take place as a separate segment.
The summit participants and guests will be treated to a vibrant cultural program, offering the opportunity to explore over 25 city museums, exhibitions, expositions, and partake in a film festival, ballet festival and various other events. Moreover, an extensive sports program is planned to further enhance the experience during the days of the summit in St. Petersburg.
In preparation for the summit, St. Petersburg Governor Alexander Beglov emphasized the need for heightened security measures in the city. To ensure safety, he recommended that business leaders consider implementing a remote work mode for their employees from July 26 to 28.
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Photo: official website of the President of the Russian Federation
Based on materials from TASS