The 2nd Russia-Africa Summit opened a new phase of cooperation and expressed Moscow's desire to collaborate with Africa in fields such as trade, peace, and security, an official source said on Thursday.

Addis Ababa.- Russian Ambassador to Ethiopia Evgeny Terekhin told the Ethiopia News Agency that the Summit, held from July 26 to 28 in St. Petersburg, also included future exchange on information technology, food security, education, and energy.

Terekhin recalled that Russia signed several agreements with Ethiopia on the sidelines of the event to strengthen cooperation, including in the educational, economic, commercial, and investment spheres, which will help elevate historic ties.

A deal was also penned for the establishment of a joint center for biological research and customs cooperation.

The diplomat highlighted Russia’s decision to increase the opportunities for scholarships and exchange programs to Ethiopian students, as well as strengthen university associations by sending Russian professors to teach at African universities.

This agreement responds to the fact that only 35 students from Ethiopia received these annual scholarships and now that number has increased to 100, he added.

After the Summit, the signing of various cooperation agreements demonstrate concrete results and bring Russia-Africa ties to a strategic level, the ambassador noted. (PL)