Putin lauds friendly relations with Africa
RUSSIAN President Vladimir Putin has praised the friend ly relations with the African continent.
Mr. Putin said Russia has always attached particular importance to the develop ment of friendly relations with African partners.
In a congratulatory mes sage to the African continent on the occasion of Africa Freedom Day, Mr. Putin said the day symbolises the aspi rations of the continent’s na tions to freedom, independ ence, peace and prosperity.
“This year marks the 20th anniversary since the Organ isation of African Unity was transformed into the African Union. This event signified the transition of the multi lateral pan African structure to a qualitatively higher level of interaction in the political, socio economic and other domains,” he said.
Mr. Putin said over the last two decades, African states have achieved a great deal through their joint efforts.
He noted that collective response mechanisms have been put in place to manage local conflicts and crisis situ ations, various formats of re gional integration processes have been consistently promoted.
Mr. Putin said Africa en joys growing influence in the
world arena, playing an ev er-increasing role in address ing important issues on the international agenda.
He said the 2019 Russia-Af rica Summit in Sochi created good conditions for enhanc ing fruitful cooperation, both at the bilateral and multilat eral levels.
Mr. Putin is confident that, working together, many useful and forward-looking projects and initiatives in a wide range of areas would be able to developed and imple mented to the benefit of the countries and peoples and in the interests of greater secu rity and stability in Africa and the world at large
“I sincerely wish you good health and every success in fulfilling your state duties, as well as peace, well-being and prosperity to all your compa triots,” he said.