SA, Russia cement bilateral relations

As south Africa prepares to host the 15th Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Af- rica (BRICS) summit in Au- gust, President Vladimir Putin has expressed 
his full support and confidence in the summit’s success.

The Russian Head of State stressed the close collabo- ration between Russia and South Africa in various inter- national fora like the United Nations (UN), G20 and other multilateral organisations such as BRICS, which is currently being chaired by South Africa.

“We closely and constructively cooperate within this grouping in order to extend our strategic cooperation bet- ween the five countries. “I am convinced that the meeting you are currently preparing for will be held on the highest level possible. I have no  doubts about this and we will spare no effort in giving our assistance to you,” he said.

President  Putin  was speaking recently during a bilateral meeting with President Cyril Ramaphosa at Konstantinovsky Palace in St. Petersburg. The gathering was held to discuss South Africa and Russia’s bilateral relations.

In  response,  President Ramaphosa expressed his sincere appreciation, underscoring the longstanding history of collaboration bet- ween the two nations.

He emphasised that their cooperation goes back to their joint efforts within the G20, where they have successfully worked together on numerous critical issues.
Additionally, President Ramaphosa said the partnership extends to the BRICS platform, where they have actively engaged in addressing  matters  of  mutual interest.

“We are delighted to have your support as we are going to host BRICS in a few weeks. We agree with you that BRICS should be held at an appropriate level.

“We are in the process of preparing for BRICS and we thank you for the support you are giving and that you are willing to give. As it is, a number of Russian officials and Ministers have been to South Africa to attend the various preparatory mee- tings that are taking place for BRICS,”  President Ramaphosa said.

Turning attention to the recently concluded second Russia-Africa Summit, President Ramaphosa lauded President Putin for hosting a successful summit, with a declaration that was “well negotiated and well crafted”, representing the views of various countries.

Trade ties
Regarding the bilateral relationship between Russia and South Africa, President Ramaphosa affirmed that the two nations share and uphold strong ties.

The President emphasised that South Africa is presently grappling with an energy crisis and could gain valuable insights from Russia's experience.

“Currently, South Africa is going through an energy crisis and we could learn a lot and do a lot together with Russia on the energy side. On the science and technology side, there's a great deal that we can learn from each other. We can learn a lot from you,” he said. Regarding education, the

President expressed South Africa's deep appreciation for the support received from Russia. He conveyed his desire to encourage an increasing number of students to pursue studies in various disciplines in Russia. President Ramaphosa acknowledged the value of the extensive support provided by President Putin to many South Africans who have been educated in Russia, and expressed his wish to see this support continue.

Furthermore, President Ramaphosa praised President Putin's stance on the representation of Africa at the UN level “We'd like to appreciate your position on the issue of the representation of Africa at the UN level. We continue to be a continent that is not represented in the key structures of the UN. 

Thank you for being supportive in that regard,” he said. – SAnews.gov.za