St. Petersburg’s Russian–African summit attracted Africans and Egyptians.
The second Russia-Africa Economic and Humanitarian meeting began yesterday to oversee the execution of various agreements agreed at the 2019 Sochi meeting.
Putin greeted the African visitors and said Africa’s future is bright.
Putin disclosed that Russia supplied Africa with wheat despite Western Europe’s restrictions, reaching $17 billion in commercial trade.
He said the Canal Zone industrial zone, which would be developed in conjunction with Egypt, will promote commercial links with African nations by enabling exports through Egypt.
President Putin congratulated President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi for Egypt’s significant contributions to the inaugural forum in Sochi during the opening ceremony.
The President and Egyptian media attended the conference.
Many African ministers and diplomats expressed their satisfaction with the participation.
African leaders said their countries reject American efforts to boycott the meeting because they want to cooperate with Russia.
Former Egyptian ambassador to Moscow Ezzat Saad said President Putin’s speech addressed African concerns about the global food crisis and economic cooperation.
Sherif Gad, head of the Egyptian Association for Graduates of Russian and Soviet Universities, said the forum’s atmosphere reflects the Russian and African sides’ desire to improve cooperation in food, energy, trade, and education.
Ahmed Moamar translated.