APA-Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) A Russia-Africa pre-summit roundtable was held Wednesday in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa with Moscow looking for strengthening al strategic partnership with African countries.
The roundtable dubbed “On the Road to the Second Russia-Africa Summit’ dwelt on key aspects on the preparation of the Second Summit Russia–Africa Economic and Humanitarian Forum that will be held in St. Petersburg late this month.
Opening the event, Russian Federation Ambassador to Ethiopia and Permanent Representative to the African Union (AU) Evgeny Terekhin said Russia will give priority and forge its economic and trade cooperation with African countries.
The ambassador said the Second Summit Russia–Africa Economic and Humanitarian Forum will serve as a platform to strengthen political, economic and humanitarian cooperation and open up new chapters of cooperation with Africa.
Terekhin told journalists that the United States and Europe have imposed several sanctions on Russia following the Russia- Ukraine conflict and that exacerbated problems in the supply of fuel, fertilizer and wheat to Africa.
“More than 300,000 tons of fertilizer which was destined to Africa has been confiscated in various ports of Europe” said the ambassador, blaming the west for not willing to distribute the input to Africa for free.
“The ‘West’ executed a conspiracy policy, denying the Russian companies access to vessels, payment and insurance services and even though they are willing to transport the goods to Africa and other parts of the world,” he said.
Igor Morozov, Chairman of AFROCOM, a coordinating committee in charge of facilitating economic cooperation between the Russian Federation and African countries, told reporters that the summit is part of Russia’s move to create a multipolar world where all voices are heard.
“Russia has established one of the most developed digital economies in the world and it wants to bring those technologies to Africa,” said Morozov, noting that the Russian Federation also aims at introducing competitive technology to Africa.
“We will bring in huge businesses and companies to Africa that will see the continent as a strategic priority,” Morozov told the media.
MG/abj/APA