Russia and Sierra Leone will celebrate the 60th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations between the two countries and will hold a number of events dedicated to this anniversary, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Monday at a press conference following talks with Sierra Leonean Foreign Minister David Francis.
"Relations between our countries are traditionally friendly and are developing on the principles of equality, mutual respect and consideration of each other's interests. In January next year diplomatic relations between our countries will celebrate their 60th anniversary. Today we have agreed to meet this anniversary with dignity and hold specific events dedicated to it," the minister said.
Energy group meeting
Russia and Sierra Leone expect to resume the work of the joint energy group and prepare its second meeting this year as soon as the epidemic situation allows, Lavrov said at a press conference.
"We have agreed, as soon as the coronavirus situation allows, to resume the work of the energy group, which was created following the Sierra Leonean president's visit to the Russia-Africa summit in Sochi. It has already had its first meeting. We expect to prepare a second one this year," he said.
Lavrov also stated the mutual desire of Moscow and Freetown to bring trade, economic and investment cooperation up to the level where the political dialogue between the two countries is. "So far, achievements in the trade sphere are modest, but there are concrete plans. I hope that the current visit of Mr. Minister's delegation will accelerate their implementation. I mean opportunities to carry out mutually beneficial projects in the field of minerals, fuel and energy complex, infrastructure, fisheries," said the Minister.
"We will continue our discussions and ensure that Russian business, which we want to go to Sierra Leone, enjoy favorable conditions for work there. Mr. Minister confirmed that this will be one of his priorities," Lavrov stressed.
Mutually beneficial cooperation
Sierra Leone expects to attract Russian business investment to the country, the republic's Foreign Minister David Francis added.
"We would like to attract Russian investors. We hope that the Russian government will help this process, it will be a mutually beneficial interaction," he said.
The foreign minister pointed to the republic's "strategic opportunities" in the mining industry, as well as in the tourism, oil and gas, energy and military sectors.
"We need to turn the political partnership into trade and economic cooperation, including investment cooperation," Francis stressed. - "This new development diplomacy is our imperative. We want to present Sierra Leone as a country of new opportunities."
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Based on materials from TASS