The message that was delivered by Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov, who headed the Russian delegation at the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg, said in part:
“Russia highly appreciates the trustworthy political dialogue it is conducting with your country, our countries’ close cooperation in international affairs, as well as in tackling the problems of strategic stability, strengthening the UN’s central role, and countering terrorism.
“We are set to further coordinate our efforts in dealing with the problems of the African continent. South Africa’s initiative in creating the programme, The New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), your efforts in establishing the African Union, as well as Russia’s work on the Plan of Action for Africa as part of its activities in the G8, that was adopted in Kananaskis, are based on mainly shared principled approaches. It creates new approaches to joint activities, including implementing NEPAD and settling conflicts on the continent.”
Mr Putin said the high level of mutual understanding that had been reached in foreign policy between Russia and South Africa should be supported by the adequate development of the whole range of their bilateral relations in trade, economy, science, technologies and culture.
In conclusion, the Russian head of state said: “I am confident that by joining our efforts we can give a new impetus to the relations between our countries, thus creating favourable conditions for the preparations for our next meeting.”