Moscow - Russian President Vladimir Putin began a summit with
African leaders on Wednesday in the Russian resort city of Sochi as
his country looks to double trade with the continent in five years.
"I believe that it is fully within our power to double the volume of
trade in the next four or five years as a minimum," Putin said in a
speech at the plenary session of the Russia-Africa Summit.
Putin said trade had already more than doubled over the past five
years to more than 20 billion dollars - an amount he considered "too
small."
About a third of that amount - 7 billion dollars - is from trade with
Egypt, according to Putin's comments earlier in the day during a
meeting with Egyptian President President Abdel-Fattah al-Sissi.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, and Egypt's President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi pose for a photo prior to the talks in the Black Sea resort of Sochi. Picture: Sergei Fadeyechev/TASS News Agency Pool Photo via AP
Al-Sissi currently holds the rotating chairmanship of the African
Union, a pan-continental organization designed to strengthen ties
between Africa's countries.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, and President, Cyril Ramaphosa pose for a photo prior to their talks on the sideline of Russia-Africa summit in the Black Sea resort of Sochi. Picture: Sergei Fadeyechev/TASS News Agency Pool Photo via AP
The Kremlin expected the majority of Africa's leaders to attend the
two-day summit. "Heads of state and government of 43 African
countries will attend," Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov said earlier this
week.
The United Nations recognizes 54 countries in Africa. The African
Union recognizes 55.