Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s opening remarks at a meeting with Minister of Foreign Affairs and Development Cooperation in the Republic of Burundi Albert Shingiro on the sidelines of the first ministerial conference of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum, Sochi, November 8, 2024

Albert,

Friends,

We are grateful for your acceptance of our invitation to attend the inaugural ministerial conference of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum in Sochi. We highly value the steadfast commitment of the Burundian leadership to all matters pertaining to cooperation with the Russian Federation and within the Russia-Africa framework.

Our Presidents had a productive meeting on the sidelines of the second Russia-Africa summit in St Petersburg in 2023.

We continue to maintain regular communications with you. Your working visit to Sochi in March 2023 and my subsequent visit to Bujumbura in May 2023 exemplify our ongoing engagement.

I fondly recall the beauty of your homeland, the warmth of its people, and the exceptional hospitality extended to our delegation during our visit.

Today, we shall engage in discussions concerning our bilateral relations and collaboration on the international stage.