President Vladimir Putin on Friday said Russia has written off debts of African states worth $23 billion.
Speaking at the second Russia-Africa summit in St. Petersburg, Putin said 90% of debts of African countries were settled, with no more “direct” debts but some financial obligations.
Putin noted that Russia’s attention to Africa is steadily growing, which is evident in plans to increase diplomatic presence on the continent.
“This is a real practical step to significantly intensify work with African countries in the political, business, humanitarian, cultural and tourism spheres,” he stressed.
Moscow also supports further representation of African countries in the Security Council and other UN structures, he said.
“The political and economic role of Africa is growing exponentially, the continent is becoming a new center of power, which everyone will have to take into consideration,” he said.
Putin cited the African peace initiative for Ukraine as an example of the continent’s increasing political role. “This in itself says a lot, because previously any mediation missions were monopolized exclusively by countries with so-called developed democracy,” he said.
Read the full story on Anadolu Agency
