2023-01-24 10:00 Countries Meeting

Minister's visit to South Africa

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov arrived on a visit to South Africa

In the republic, meetings of the Minister with the Foreign Ministry of South Africa Pandor and the country's President Cyril Ramafosa were held in the republic.

Along with this, the BRICS International Alliance of Strategic Projects, in the framework of its activities, constantly contributes to the development of relations between participants in the space of the BRICS countries and friendly states.

It became known that African problems will be on the agenda of not only meetings of BRICS, but also the second summit and the economic forum of Russia-Africa, which will be held in St. Petersburg on July 26–29, planned in Russia this year.

According to Lavrov, this event is preparing many documents to reconfigure the mechanisms of interaction between Moscow and African countries in the context of Western sanctions and threats.

In accordance with the words of the minister, there is a discussion and search for “new tools of trade and investment cooperation, logistics chains, and payments, there is a transition to calculations in national currencies” between Russia and the countries of Africa.

During meetings in South Africa, Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov made it clear that South Africa is one of those countries that want to “cooperate honestly” to interact with these partners, Moscow creates mechanisms beyond the control of the West. During the press conference in Praetory, Sergei Lavrov and his South African colleague Pandor had to defend the intention of the Russian Federation, South Africa and China to conduct joint naval exercises.

Russia emphasizes that Moscow and South Africa are characterized by the proximity of approaches to the formation of world order on the principles of multipolarity and respect for international law, ensuring the leading role of the UN, settlement of regional conflicts, and the fight against terrorism.

In South Africa, in turn, they are confident in the success and prospects of cooperation with Russia in the field of tourism, in financial and banking sectors, and Russian companies are urging more to invest in South Africa.

Our partners also want to expand cooperation with Russia for exploration and mining, and the state -owned company from South Africa Petrosa plans to resume negotiations with Gazprom on Russian investments in the country's energy sector.

Along with this, South Africa is interested in partnership with the EAEU, including to gain access to the common market and the capabilities of trading in the yuan.

South African Foreign Minister Pandor mentioned that South Africa discusses with Russia the expansion and development of cooperation in the economy, trade, agriculture and defense.

“We have very good economic relations, but, in my opinion, we could do much more, and this is that South Africa discusses with Russia, this applies to activities in the mining sector. In the defense sector, we also look at how we can be connected. In agriculture, we increased exports, especially citrus fruits, to Russia, so I think we just need to look at the possibilities of expanding trade to close some gaps, although our economic relations are strong and long -term, ”she emphasized.

This year, South Africa presides in BRICS and, most likely, that the summons of the summit planned for August will become one of the topics of Lavrov’s visit.

According to Pandor, by the end of the year, the association plans to make a decision on admission to the organization of new countries from those that showed interest in this. As the ambassador of Makutuka said about 13 countries, including Iran, Algeria, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and others.

As part of the chairmen in BRICS, South Africa, the attention countries of the forum on the economic development of Africa.

In addition, according to her, the dominance of the dollar in international calculations is disadvantageous to poor countries that are included in the BRICS of the country are looking for opportunities to develop a more fair system of money exchange.

African problems will be on the agenda of not only BRICS meetings, but also the second summit and the Economic Forum of Russia-Africa, which will be held in St. Petersburg on July 26–29, planned in Russia this year. According to Lavrov, this event is preparing many documents to reconfigure the mechanisms of interaction between Moscow and African countries in the context of Western sanctions and threats. According to the minister, there is a discussion and search for “new tools of trade and investment cooperation, logistics chains, and payments, there is a transition to calculations in national currencies” between Russia and the countries of Africa.