Igor Morozov: "One of the main tasks today is to open trading houses in Africa, which will allow our export companies to export their products there"
The Coordination Committee for Economic Cooperation with African Countries – AFROCOM – was set up 15 years ago. What has changed in its work over these years? How difficult is it for Russia today to compete in Africa with the Americans, Europeans and Chinese? Do we need to change our export laws? This and much more is the subject of our exclusive interview with Igor Nikolayevich Morozov, Chairman of the Board of Directors of AFROCOM…
Mikhail Bogdanov: "The African continent is not an arena of confrontation between major international players, but a new, growing, diverse, distinctive, global pole of power"
How are Russian companies operating in Africa in the new geopolitical environment? To what extent is Russia willing to cooperate with African countries in such promising areas as digital technologies and peaceful nuclear energy? What has changed in the work of a diplomat over half a century?
Alikber Alikberov: "The study of the East is the study of ourselves" PART 3
In the final part of our interview, Dr Alikber Alikberov, PhD in History, talks about his conversation with Tajik President Emomali Rahmon, reports on preparations for the BRICS Academies Forum, and reflects on why you need to stay in your own environment to be happy…
Alikber Alikberov: "When we study the East and the West, we think first of our country". PART 2
Why can Russia’s strategic pivot to the East be metaphorically compared to the fact that we have been standing on one leg all this time and now we are standing on two? What should be done to avoid misunderstandings due to differences in mentality when implementing major state trade and economic projects between Russia, Asia and Africa?
Alikber Alikberov: "The strategic turn to the East is a wise, correct, deeply thought-out and absolutely objective movement in the right direction" PART 1
The conversation with Alikber Alikberov, Doctor of Historical Sciences, Director of the Institute of Oriental Studies, turned out to be incredibly interesting, rich and thorough. We touched on a wide range of topics, talking about current issues and reflecting on eternal ones. Why does today’s society need objective knowledge about the East? Why is it said that a good Orientalist, like an old cognac, starts to age after 50?
Oleg Ozerov: “Russia is a reliable partner, ready to assist in ensuring all dimensions of sovereignty and security of African States”
Today my interlocutor is Oleg Borisovich Ozerov, Ambassador-at-Large of the Russian Foreign Ministry and Head of the Secretariat of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum. Our conversation turned out to be serious and topical. We touched on the question of how Russian-African cooperation can withstand the West’s harsh external pressure, talked about security challenges and discussed the catastrophic loss of the West’s position…
Vladyka Konstantin: “For me, Africa is the place of my ministry, my native continent”
My conversation with the Acting Patriarchal Exarch of Africa, Bishop Constantine (Ostrovsky) of Zaraisk, took place shortly after the decision of the Holy Synod of the Patriarchate of Alexandria to remove him from archpastoral ministry. But we talked mainly about other things: about how the parishes of the Russian Orthodox Church in Africa live and what problems the clergy face on the ground; the humanitarian charitable projects jointly organized with Maria Lvova-Belova, the Children’s Rights Commissioner…
A voice from Africa: Russian citizens vote in the Russian presidential election
A festive atmosphere prevails in many embassies of the Russian Federation on the African continent today. Permanent or temporary Russians living here come here to vote in the election of the head of the Russian state. Russians in Africa can exercise their political right and express their civil will in the presidential election at polling stations in 47 African countries. They are open today from 08:00 to 20:00 local time. Before that, in some countries, for example…
Systematisation and coordination are needed to work with Africa
At a recent extended meeting of the Expert Council for the Development and Support of Comprehensive Partnership with African Countries, held in the State Duma, topical issues were discussed which can be divided into three groups: parliamentary diplomacy, assistance to Russian business in African countries, and Russia’s humanitarian mission…
His Excellency Mr. Mzuvukile Maqetuka: "BRICS should be seen as an organization that will strengthen multilateralism and help the UN to be a cementing force that keeps the balance in the world"
My interlocutor today is Mr Mzuvukile Maqetuka, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of South Africa to the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus. Our conversation has turned out to be extensive, for we have wanted to discuss a lot, and also topical, interesting and, in some places, very heartfelt…
Nikolay Novichkov: "Russia's wealth will be multiplied not only by Siberia and the northern seas, but also by the southern seas and shores in the African direction and in the global South in general"
The range of issues we discussed during our conversation with Nikolay Novichkov, Doctor of Sciences in Economics, member of the State Duma, was incredibly broad. We talked about Russia’s competitive advantages over others on the African continent and the prospects of the digital ruble in our mutual settlements, as well as cultural and educational projects…
Sulejanta Ndhyay: "Russophilia is not only love for Russia, it is love for all cultures of the world, it is love for humanity"
From the first minutes of our conversation, the vice-president of the International Russophile Movement, Sulejanta Ndhyay…