Being the ever transforming continent, Africa has been hunting development partners and allies with a view to fostering its growth and changes in all aspects centering a communal advantage. Its close ties cemented, since recently, with Russia is a case in point in this regard. Yes, the long-standing historical ties between Africa and Russia has been bearing fruits as the former is willing to work with the continent which has been running towards meeting its insightful objective, Agenda 2063, under its umbrella club—African Union.
The firm and consistence advocacy rendered by Russia to African countries has always strictly adhered to the principle of ‘African solutions to African problems.’ Such a fruitful association would help the continent meet its golden goals, indeed!
The importance of spiraling economic cooperation between Africa and Russia is also of paramount importance in buttressing the fields of science and technology, education, investment, trade, among others. Unequivocally, the need for increased collaboration in science and technology so as to maximize mutual benefits has dramatically risen. True, such an enhanced partnership is pivotal in boosting agricultural productivity, adopting emerging technologies, expanding Africa’s industrial base, addressing climate change challenges, too.
Obviously, Ethiopia has all the time welcomed the readiness of the Russian Federation to expedite a comprehensive reform at the UN and in support of Africa’s rightful permanent representation at the UN Security Council. The dedication of this east African nation, Ethiopia, is also highly valued towards fostering peace and stability in the Horn of Africa.
Under the aegis of Russia, the partnership would be instrumental in ensuring common change. Unequivocally, the Russia–Africa summits have brought together decisive personalities of Russia and African countries, the African Union Commission, as well as the executive bodies of regional integration associations from the continent. This by itself is a major player in due course of coming up with collective thought and expertise for real change.
The recent summit, too, would be an opportunity to review the culmination and foster the implementation of a number of socio-economic projects like energy, food security, bilateral trade and investment, science and technology as well as tourism and education. Russian respect for the sovereignty of African states, values and destiny has its contribution to the firm connection of the two sides. Hence the summit has to be made a viable weapon for trustful, forward-looking, constructive and long-lasting.
Having a long time-tested relationship with Africa, Russia has been contributing a lot to the overall development of the continent. Since a few African countries have adopted import substitution, agricultural policy transformation, undertaking a range of deeds leading towards self-sufficiency, Russia is there to support them so.
In sum, both Russian and African leaders are expected to reaffirm their collective stance to sort out prioritized areas and capitalize on them to make a difference in all aspects. The history of Russia–Africa Summit is the highest-profile and largest-scale event in Russian–African relations, aiming at bringing about a fundamentally new level of mutually beneficial partnership to meet the challenges of the 21st century.
The goal of the summits undertaken, being carried out, is to promote efforts to strengthen comprehensive and equal cooperation between Russia and African nations across all areas of society including politics, security, economic relations, science and technology, and the cultural and humanitarian spheres. What matters hereafter is thinking of the steps to be further taken to give a new impetus to bilateral economic relations and the way how could these lucrative measures be reinvigorated. In so doing, it would be easy to create a deeper strategic partnership between Russia and Africa and move forward.
That is why it is recurrently heralded that the partnership between Africa and Russia needs to be strong, deep-rooted, and has always been distinguished by stability, trust and good will. It would also be possible to set up doable bilateral intergovernmental entities for trade, economic, science and technology and other decisive sub-sectors.
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD TUESDAY 12 NOVEMBER 2024
