Russia and South Africa Mark 20th Anniversary of Friendship Treaty and Partnership -By Kestér Kenn Klomegâh

On September 5, Russia and South Africa observed 20 years since the signing of the Treaty on Friendship and Partnership. This was concluded in Cape Town in 2006 as part of the official visit by President Vladimir Putin. The treaty created a solid foundation for further strengthening bilateral cooperation.

In March 2023, the two countries signed the Joint Declaration on the Establishment of a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in Durban, and went on to adopt a Joint Statement on Strategic Partnership in Johannesburg in July 2018 to update the 2013 Joint Declaration.

Today, South Africa is one of the key countries on the African continent for Russia. Regular and trust-based contacts between the leaders of Russia and South Africa have had a guiding and defining role in unlocking the potential of our bilateral relations. The foreign ministers have been maintaining constructive dialogue, while interparliamentary, party-to-party ties, as well as ties in science, technology and humanitarian affairs have been gathering positive momentum.

The Mixed Intergovernmental Committee for Trade and Economic Cooperation, as well as the Business Council serve as the main mechanisms for enabling Russia and South Africa to step up their economic cooperation by steadily expanding trade and undertaking investment projects.

Moscow and Pretoria have been working closely within the United Nations, BRICS and the Group of 20, which has made it possible for them to promote converging positions on key international and regional matters. Russia is committed to further strengthening relations with South Africa in all their aspects.