Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has arrived in the Republic of Congo for negotiations with the country’s leadership, according to Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova. The talks, scheduled for today in the city of Oyo, come as the two nations celebrate the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations.
In July 2023, Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Congolese President Denis Sassou Nguesso at the Russia-Africa summit, highlighting the effective collaboration of Russian companies like Lukoil, Yandex, and Rosatom in Congo.
The meeting is expected to focus on boosting trade and economic ties, following a significant 85% increase in trade turnover between Russia and Congo in January-April 2023.
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Energy sector projects, including oil production and liquefied natural gas exports, are likely to be discussed. The Republic of Congo has an estimated 1.6 billion barrels of crude oil reserves and 90.6 million cubic meters of natural gas reserves. Military-technical cooperation and humanitarian initiatives, such as Congolese personnel training in Russian universities, will also be on the agenda.
The Russian Center for Science and Culture operates in Brazzaville, and the number of government scholarships for Congolese students in Russia has increased to 250 for the 2023-2024 academic year.
The visit aims to strengthen bilateral relations and foster cooperation between Russia and the Republic of Congo.
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