Putin Calls Congo a Reliable Friend and Partner of Russia

 Russian President Vladimir Putin held a meeting with Congo's leader Denis Sassou Nguesso at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing. The talks took place on the sidelines of the events marking the 80th anniversary of the victory over Japanese militarism and the end of World War II. Both leaders were honorary guests at the celebrations.

"Cooperation with Congo is one of the priorities of our foreign policy in Africa. Congo is our reliable, time-tested friend and partner," Putin stated.

He noted that trade relations between the two countries are "stable," but emphasized the need to make the necessary efforts to bring them to a new level.

"We are in constant contact <…> and our colleagues at the governmental level continuously maintain relations in various areas," the Russian leader underscored.

In May, Sassou Nguesso visited Moscow to participate in the events commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War and held talks with the Russian president at the Kremlin. The meeting in Beijing was previously announced by Russian Presidential Aide for International Affairs Yuri Ushakov.

Yevgenia Mylnikova