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Russian top diplomat to discuss Africa and Middle East with Congolese counterpart

MOSCOW, March 21. /TASS/. On March 22, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and his counterpart from the Democratic Republic of the Congo Leonard She Okitundu will hold talks to discuss the ways to resolve crises in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and other hotspots in Africa as well as in the Middle East, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement. She Okitundu is expected to make a working visit to Moscow upon the invitation of the Russian top diplomat.

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"During the March 22 talks, the two ministers will discuss the prospects of bilateral relations focusing on political, economic and humanitarian cooperation," the statement reads. "They will also exchange views on key issues on the global and regional agenda, paying special attention to combating terrorism and extremism and solving crises in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and other hotspots on the African continent, particularly in the Great Lakes region, the Central African Republic, South Sudan, Libya as well as in the Middle East."

The Russian Foreign Ministry also said that relations between Russia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo had always been friendly. "Mutually beneficial cooperation can be built in mining, geological research, agriculture and the energy sector," the ministry’s statement adds. "Congolese citizens are educated in Russia’s educational institutions which is important for boosting bilateral relations."

"Russia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo have been maintaining dialogue as the two countries have similar views of the global developments and common approaches to pressing global issues, including the establishment of a more just and secure multipolar world order based on the leading role of the United Nations and the supremacy of international law. The two countries have also been efficiently cooperating within the United Nations and on other multilateral platforms."

"We expect that specific steps aimed at the further development of multifaceted cooperation between Russia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo will be agreed on during the upcoming talks," the Russian Foreign Ministry stressed.

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Foreign policy Sergey Lavrov

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