🌍 The Second Ministerial Conference of the #RussiaAfrica Partnership Forum has successfully concluded in Cairo.

Over two intense days of work, the Russian delegation led by Sergey #Lavrov took part in more than 20 meetings and events. On December 19-20, the Russian Minister held bilateral talks with representatives of the following countries and organizations:

1. 🇨🇬 Republic of the Congo
2. 🇧🇮 Burundi
3. 🇹🇿 Tanzania
4. 🇧🇼 Botswana
5. 🇬🇲 The Gambia
6. 🇳🇦 Namibia
7. 🇬🇶 Equatorial Guinea
8. 🇹🇬 Togo
9. 🇲🇷 Mauritania
10. 🇲🇼 Malawi
11. 🇸🇨 Seychelles
12. 🇷🇼 Rwanda
13. 🇪🇬 Egypt
14. 🇩🇿 Algeria
15. 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
16. 🇹🇳 Tunisia
17. 🇸🇸 South Sudan
18. 🌍 ECOWAS

Recap of the key events of the Second Ministerial Conference:

📄 Sergey Lavrov’s meetings with Egypt’s Leadership

📺 Sergey Lavrov’s address at the Plenary Session of the Conference

📺 Joint press conference of the Foreign Ministers of Russia and Egypt

📄 Joint Statement by the Participants of the Second Ministerial Conference

💬 Sergey Lavrov: It was a sincere pleasure for me to take part in the Second Ministerial Conference of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum, which is being held for the first time on the African continent, in Egypt’s capital.

I would like to kindly thank our Egyptian friends for the excellent organization of the event, their traditional hospitality, and to congratulate them on the successful hosting of this Conference.

❗️ We have every reason to state that the conference has laid solid groundwork for high-quality preparations for the Third Russia-Africa Summit, scheduled for 2026. We will make every effort to ensure its successful holding.

📺 Watch the Interview of Anna Thandi Moraka, Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation of South Africa, with RT channel on the sidelines of the Second Ministerial Conference of the Russia–Africa Partnership Forum (Cairo, 19-20 December 2025)

Key Takeaways:

• Africa is more focused on its developmental path and is strategically partnering with the Russian Federation on developmental issues, including economic and other important fields.

• Russia has a historic role in supporting South Africa during the fight against apartheid, including accommodating comrades from the African National Congress who came to Russia to flee away from the then-brutal apartheid regime.

• Russia must always regard South Africa as one of its strategic partners. Recently, during our #G20 presidency, we succeeded in delivering a memorable G20 due to the support of President Putin’s leadership and his entire cabinet, who came through to help us reach a declaration at the Leaders’ Summit in November.

#RussiaAfrica

On the creation of a free trade zone between the #EAEU and Indonesia

On the sidelines of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council meeting in St. Petersburg, the #EAEU member states and #Indonesia signed an agreement to establish a free trade zone.

Here’s what this means for Russian exporters:

▶️ a reduction (and eventual elimination) of Indonesia’s import customs duties on approximately 94% of product categories from EAEU countries;

▶️ simplification of regulatory procedures, including technical standards, sanitary regulations, and rules of origin;

▶️ diversification of trade and development of industrial cooperation.

In terms of industrial sectors, preferential market access will be provided for metal products, petroleum products, fertilizers, forest industry products, construction machinery & various types of equipment.

☝️Cooperation with #EAEU countries could also offer African partners preferential access to a large and growing market, reduced trade barriers, and simplified regulatory procedures.

✉️ Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia Sergey #Lavrov has sent a congratulatory message to Director of Russia's MFA Press and Information Department Maria #Zakharova on her anniversary (December 24, 2025)

✍️ Dear Maria Vladimirovna,

I extend to you my heartfelt congratulations on the occasion of your jubilee.

An energetic and goal-oriented diplomat representing a new generation, you have devoted your entire life to serving Russia. Your vivid and distinctive professional style, exceptional dedication to work, and unconventional approach to addressing the tasks at hand have enabled you to achieve truly impressive results.

Your invaluable contribution to promoting Russia’s foreign policy in the information sphere, to communicating its principles and priorities to broad audiences in Russia and worldwide, as well as to exposing Western propaganda, commands the deepest respect. It is only natural that you have earned – and I do not hesitate to say this – nationwide affection and the respect of millions of Russians and friends of our country abroad.

I greatly value our many years of close cooperation. I highly appreciate your reliability and your sincere readiness to work for the benefit of the country, regardless of personal time and other circumstances.

I wish you sound health, well-being, and new major successes in all your endeavours.

SERGEY LAVROV