Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Thursday the upcoming Russia-Africa Summit in October will focus on expanding economic cooperation, digital technologies, and alternative financial mechanisms.
Speaking at a news conference after talks with Guinea-Bissau's Foreign Minister Fatumata Djau Balde in Moscow, Lavrov said it was too early to speak about potential breakthroughs at the summit, which will be held in Moscow in October.
"We will judge the breakthroughs after the summit takes place. We are working not for external effect, but to ensure that our relations become more sustainable and produce concrete results, primarily in the material sphere and humanitarian cooperation," he said.
Lavrov added that the summit's priorities would include information and communication technologies, artificial intelligence, the digital economy, and expanding settlements in currencies other than major Western reserve currencies.
Fertiliser production
"The issue of payment platforms is now occupying many organisations in Africa, Latin America, as well as within the SCO and BRICS," he said, adding that such efforts are part of reducing what he described as the remaining legacy of colonial dependence.
Lavrov said food security would remain a key topic but discussions would go beyond increasing Russian exports of food and fertilisers to Africa.
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