In the run-up to the Second Russia–Africa Summit and Economic and Humanitarian Forum to be held on 27–28 July 2023 in St. Petersburg, the Roscongress Foundation has published the official event magazine.
The publication is available in Russian, English, and French. Its electronic version is available on the Forum’s website.
The central theme of the magazine is the relations between Russia and Africa in the new world order. The programme article, prepared by Irina Abramova, Director, Institute for African Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, notes that the modern world is passing through a stage of the deepest political, economic, humanitarian, and very dangerous military crisis.
However, it is already obvious that the countries that were considered “the world periphery”, including African states, are accelerating their development and gaining geopolitical weight. International relations are undergoing a rapid transformation from the legacy of colonialism to sovereignty and development. And Russia is playing a key role in this. “Russia and Africa have both the desire and opportunities to bring our cooperation to a strategic level in the interests of development and prosperity of our peoples,” the article says.
The magazine describes the projects of Gazprom and ROSATOM, Uralchem and Uralkali, LUKOIL, and other major Russian companies being implemented on the African continent as illustrative examples of such cooperation. It is important that among them there are projects not only in the economic, but also in the humanitarian sphere. Readers of the magazine will also learn about the initiatives of young African entrepreneurs who are members of the Friends for Leadership international network.
In turn, the theme of the struggle against colonialism is developed in the article about a unique thematic exposition to be held at the Forum. It is dedicated to the role of the USSR and Russia in the development of independent African states. Readers will see vivid evidence of Russian–African friendship throughout the 20th century – important archive documents and live photographs selected by the Svyaz’ Epoh Fund for Support of Inter-Museum Communication Space and Cultural and Educational Programmes, which acts as an exhibition operator.
The city, in which the Forum will take place, was not left out either. The article entitled “Exotic St. Petersburg” contains not only fascinating facts about Russia’s cultural capital, but also about the role that natives of Africa have played in its history.
The pages of the magazine also contain useful information about the Forum’s thematic spaces, a convenient venue navigator, necessary contacts, addresses, and the main events of the business, cultural, and sports programmes.
