Russian President Vladimir Putin stated on Thursday that he expects the African Union (AU) to join the G-20 as early as September during the organization’s forthcoming session in India.
“Russia was one of the first to respond positively to your predecessor in the presidency, Senegal’s President, last year’s initiative to grant the African Union full membership in the G-20.” “We expect this decision to be made as early as September during the G-20 summit in New Delhi,” Putin said during a meeting with AU President Azali Assoumani and AU Commission President Moussa Faki Mahamat in St. Petersburg.
Putin described the African Union as the key regional organisation establishing Africa’s security framework and laying the groundwork for the continent’s participation “in the system of global economic ties.”
Putin went on to say that his country is prepared to do “everything possible to help strengthen the sovereignty of African states, to help make Africa one of the key partners in the new system of a multipolar world order,” implying that these issues will be given special attention during the Russia-Africa Summit, which begins later today.
“We will also talk about practical solutions for increasing trade and economic cooperation, ensuring food and energy security, and developing national healthcare systems,” Putin stated.
He also stated that despite the impact of Western sanctions and the COVID-19 epidemic, the volume of bilateral commerce between Russia and Africa in 2022 would be over $18 billion, with trade turnover increasing by nearly 35% in the first half of this year.
Putin met separately on Wednesday with his Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, and the president of the New Development Bank, Dilma Rousseff, ahead of the Russia-Africa Summit on July 27-28.