Russia and the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) have signed a cooperation agreement, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated on Saturday.

St. Petersburg, Russia.- According to the Foreign Ministry’s statement on the sidelines of the Russia-Africa Summit, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and ECCAS President Gilberto Da Piedade Verissimo “penned a memorandum of understanding on the foundations of relations and cooperation between Moscow and ECCAS.”

The memorandum says that this document establishes the basis for relations with the group and will promote the development of relations in many spheres.

The Economic Community of Central African States was founded in 1983 and brings together 11 Central African countries: Angola, Burundi, Cameroon, Chad, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, the Republic of Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the Central African Republic, Rwanda, and Sao Tome and Principe.

The 2nd Russia-Africa Summit and the Russia-Africa Economic and Humanitarian Forum, aimed at contributing to developing mutually beneficial cooperation between Russia and the African continent, took place in St. Petersburg, Russia, on July 27 and 28. (PL)