On July 25, during his working visit to the Republic of the Congo, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov was welcomed to the town of Oyo by President of the Republic of the Congo Denis Sassou Nguesso, to whom he conveyed a personal message from President Vladimir Putin and held talks with Minister for Foreign Affairs, Francophonie and Congolese Abroad of the Republic of the Congo Jean-Claude Gakosso.

The Russian Foreign Minister thoroughly informed the Congolese leaders about the goals and objectives of the special military operation to protect the republics of Donbass, as well as about the current status of global food security in light of the corresponding package of agreements reached in Istanbul on July 22.

When discussing the range of issues on further strengthening traditionally friendly Russian-Congolese relations, the parties confirmed Moscow and Brazzaville’s commitment to deepen the political dialogue and to build up cooperation in international affairs. The issue of reforming the UN was reviewed from overlapping and consonant positions with an emphasis on increasing the representation of the developing countries, including African countries, in the Security Council. Pressing African problems were touched on, including the situation in the Great Lakes Region and other African hot spots. Special attention was paid to advancing a Libyan settlement with consideration for the role and efforts of Denis Sassou Nguesso as Chair of the African Union High-Level Committee on Libya.

The parties pointed out the extensive potential for expanding mutually beneficial cooperation between Russia and the Republic of the Congo in the fuel-and-energy and mineral sectors as well as in the construction of infrastructure, and they highlighted the prospects for promoting high-tech projects, including in the peaceful use of nuclear power, digital services in the service sector, municipal government, and agriculture technology. Mutual interest in deepening educational and cultural ties was reiterated. The ministers compared notes on the agenda of the 6th meeting of the Russian-Congolese Mixed Intergovernmental Commission on Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation and Trade which will be held in Brazzaville on September 21-23.

A consolidated opinion was expressed to the effect that the second Russia-Africa summit in mid-2023 will provide a unique opportunity to identify specific long-term and strategically important areas for a dynamic increase in the volume of multifaceted partnership between the Russian Federation and the African countries, as well as its multilateral agencies based on the principles of the sovereign equality of states, mutual respect and consideration for each other’s interests.