Leaders Of 40 Nations Expected In Sochi For First Russia-Africa Summit - Minister

Umer Jamshaid Published April 09, 2019 | 11:30 PM

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 09th April, 2019) The inaugural Russia-Africa summit this fall is expected to attract some 40 heads of state, Russian Deputy Defense Minister Alexander Fomin said Tuesday.

"I want to announce an unprecedented Russia-Africa summit that will be held in Sochi this year. Around 40 heads of state are expected to attend," he told Russia's AiF newspaper.

Many African countries, he added, wanted to build up their military and 15 of them had signed agreements on military cooperation with Russia in recent years.

Russian President Vladimir Putin floated the idea of holding the summit at the BRICS meeting of emerging economies in Johannesburg, South Africa in July 2018. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said a Russia-Africa business forum will also be held.