Sochi, ANGOLA, October 21 - Leaders from at least 50 African countries are expected from today (Monday) 21 in Sochi to take part as from 23-24 October at the Russia-Africa Summit. ,

This is an important meeting to review the strategy of cooperation between the governments of Africa and the Russian authorities, who intend with this event to build new alliances and reaffirm their influence on the "cradle continent".

The summit aims to highlight the expansion of political, economic, technical and cultural cooperation between Africa and Russia.

At this meeting, where Angola will be represented by a government delegation headed by the President of the Republic, João Lourenço, Russia seeks to revive Soviet-era relationships and strengthen its global influence.

In addition to the leaders of states that are traditionally partners of this European country, such as Angola and Ethiopia, other governments whose relationship with Russia have been less intense, such as Nigeria and Ghana, are expected to attend the summit.

According to the Russian authorities, this will be the first such summit in the history of Russian-African relations, and heads of all African states and leaders of major subregional associations and organizations are expected to attend.

This international event format has already been hosted by China, the US, the EU, India, France, Turkey, South Korea and Japan.

Egyptian President and African Union (AU) chairperson Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi will be the co-chair of the summit at the request of Vladimir Putin, President of Russia.

During the plenary meetings of the Summit, it is intended to discuss a wide range of international agenda issues of major interest to Russia and the African countries.

The Summit will pay special attention to the state and prospects of Russia's relations with African states, reviewing the development of political, economic, humanitarian and cultural cooperation.

The parties will try, at the meeting, to look for ways of accelerated and systemic development of the whole Russian-African cooperation.

To this end, an in-depth exchange of views on the development of agreed measures to combat terrorism, cross-border crime and other challenges such as threats to regional and global security is foreseen.

Based on the outcome of the Summit, a joint document is expected to be approved.

It is a chance to revive Soviet-era relationships and build new alliances, reinforcing Moscow's global influence in the confrontation with the West," writes Vladimir Putin on the official website of the organization.

The idea of ??holding the first Russia-Africa Summit was initiated by the Russian President on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in Johannesburg in July 2018.

But the decision was preceded by a long process of negotiations that took about 10 years.

This year's meeting comes in a favorable context for Africans and Russia, which shows interest in forming new international alliances, with Africa, one of the world's fastest developing economic regions, as its strategic partner.

Economic Forum

On the sidelines of the summit, an economic forum will also be held in Sochi, with the presence of African and Russian leaders, and representatives of large companies, which will sign trade, economic and investment agreements.

According to the organization, a significant package of trade, economic and investment agreements is expected to be signed.

The Russian government, which has not yet named the invited companies, says it expects almost 3,000 African businessmen to attend this event.

The Economic Forum will include a plenary session, several round tables and discussion panels, as well as a platform for business meetings.

It is a trading platform to enable the creation of more favorable conditions for the development of trade and economic relations between Russia and Africa, as well as to diversify the forms and directions of cooperation.

The event will be attended by African heads of state, representatives of Russian, African and international companies, as well as government agencies and representatives of African integration associations.

As part of the Russia-Africa Economic Forum, an exhibition will be organized with the participation of partners and several exhibitors.

The event will be a key platform to demonstrate successes and potential in the spheres of economy, science, culture and environmental protection.

The exhibitors will present outstanding projects and advanced technologies in the mining, chemical and machine building industries, in the energy sector, agriculture, transport, healthcare, as well as military-industrial.

The sample should cover other areas of interest to investors and to the development of export potential from Russia and the countries of Africa.