The Presidency on Monday noted that South Africa will use the second Russia-Africa Summit backdrop to further engage Russia at a bilateral level to finalise the contents and substance of the upcoming fifteenth annual Brics Summit.

South Africa will, in August, host the first in-person Summit of Brics nations – Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa – since the emergence of the Covid-19 pandemic and the subsequent global restrictions.

Before that, President Cyril Ramaphosa will lead a South African delegation to the second Russia-Africa Summit, in St. Petersburg on July 27 and 28.

This Summit was first convened in October 2019 with a commitment to continue meeting every three years. It aims to foster mutually beneficial cooperation and partnerships between Russia and the African continent.

The Presidency explained that the Summit background will also offer an opportunity to African Heads of State who are part of the African Leaders Peace Mission to continue talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin on measures to create conditions for a path to peace between Russia and Ukraine.

Putin will not attend the Brics Summit in person “by mutual agreement” owing to the International Criminal Court warrant for Putin's arrest, the Presidency announced last week. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will represent Russia instead.

Meanwhile, the Russia-Africa Summit is expected to consider four declarations and a three-year Action Plan, which will be presented for consideration.

These submissions will focus on strengthening cooperation between Russia and African States in politics, security, trade, science, IT, humanitarian support, education, culture, sports, youth and the environment.

The declarations also seek to strengthen cooperation in the fight against terrorism, the prevention of an arms race in outer space, and in information security.

Ramaphosa will be accompanied by Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Dr Naledi Pandor and Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni,

Scheduled side events will include an exhibition to showcase investment opportunities in Russia and Africa, a space to demonstrate new technologies, and a Business Development and Social Partnership Zone for networking between the heads of global corporations, government officials, business and the media.