On October 12, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister and Special Presidential Envoy for the Middle East and Africa Mikhail Bogdanov met with President of Mali Ibrahim Boubacar Keita and held consultations with Abdoulaye Diop, Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Integration and International Cooperation, in Bamako.

The officials exchanged their views on the traditionally friendly relations between Russia and Mali and their future development. They reaffirmed the mutual resolve of Moscow and Bamako towards boosting trade, economic and investment cooperation, and also discussed specific issues of promoting business relations in mining, infrastructure and agriculture, as well as in culture.

They focused on the strengthening of their bilateral foreign policy cooperation on current issues on the international and African agenda. President Keita shared his views on the situation in Mali and Sub-Saharan Africa, pointing to the need to consolidate efforts to rally effective resistance against terrorism and extremism in Africa. Mr Bogdanov reaffirmed Moscow’s consistent respect for the territorial integrity and unity of Mali, in accordance with the fundamental principles of international law on non-interference in the internal affairs of sovereign states.