Russian-Bissau-Guinean talks

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Mr President, friends.

Once again, allow me to welcome you to Moscow, Russia.

As we have already mentioned in our earlier conversation today, I am pleased to note that this is not your first visit to Russia. We have been paying a lot of attention to expanding our bilateral contacts. However, this time presents a special occasion since you came here on Victory Day, which has special significance for Russia as a whole and for the entire former Soviet Union, considering the immense contribution by the peoples of the former Soviet Union and the sacrifices they made to achieve Victory.

There is another point I wanted to make. Russia played a special role in supporting Guinea-Bissau in its struggle for independence, as we have just mentioned when we talked to each other face to face. Russia helped establish Guinea-Bissau's statehood and contributed to expanding your country's economic, scientific and technological potential.

The ties between our two countries are rooted in long-standing traditions of friendship, as well as the principles of equality and mutual respect. Let me remind you that last year we marked the 50^th anniversary of our diplomatic relations. We have been maintaining effective inter-parliamentary and inter-agency ties too. Today, we have an opportunity to discuss our performance under bilateral agreements in various sectors and further steps to expand our cooperation.

I must note that students from your country continue to study in Russia. We are ready to offer Guinea-Bissau an even bigger quota.

Russia and Guinea-Bissau have demonstrated solidarity when dealing with many urgent matters on the global agenda and share close positions on the emergence of a multipolar world order and security matters. I do hope that we will continue these contacts on essential issues.

We have been paying special attention to our relations with African countries and seeking to ease their debt burden.

Held last year in St Petersburg, the Russia-Africa Summit resulted in the adoption of a solid package of joint documents, including a detailed declaration and a specific plan of action until 2026. You took a proactive part in this event. We will make every effort to ensure that these agreements become reality.

As you know, we have a new dialogue format - the Ministerial Conference of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum, held at the level of foreign ministers. We are working on arrangements for the first meeting of this kind, which is scheduled to take place in November 2024 in Sochi. We hope that the Foreign Minister of Guinea-Bissau will attend it.

Mr President, this is not your first visit to our country. However, we have yet to arrange the first state visit to Russia. It is a pleasure for me to invite you to pay a state visit to the Russian Federation at a time that would be convenient for you, and I will make sure to coordinate its timeframe accordingly. We have yet to set the exact dates, but please keep in mind that we are looking forward to your state visit.

Thank you very much.

To be continued.

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