BAMAKO /Mali/, February 7. /TASS/. Mali wishes to improve its trade and economic ties with Russia, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Mali Abdoulaye Diop said following talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
"We also aim to improve the economic aspect of our relationship. We support Moscow's move to expand ties with Bamako. The Moscow-Bamako relations must be reinforced," he said.
"We work together to strengthen trade and economic relations. We will develop a unique structure for organizing these long-term projects," the minister added.
According to Diop, Russia has made critical decisions to ensure Mali's access to grain, electricity, and fertilizers. "All of this will contribute to the comfort of our people," he continued. Mali's Foreign Minister also mentioned Russia’s interest in several Malian goods.
In turn, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov expressed hope that deliveries of Russian wheat, fertilizers and petroleum products to Mali would start in the near future. "We are continuing humanitarian assistance to Mali, including, in the first place, through the bilateral line. I hope deliveries of wheat, fertilizers, petroleum products and other strategic goods will start in the near future," Lavrov said on Tuesday after talks with Mali’s Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop.
"Our trade turnover is growing and fairly quickly - by twenty-odd percent last year. Still, absolute figures are not very impressive - this is our common assessment. We agree that mineral resources tapping, exploration, energy, transport and other infrastructure, and agriculture are promising spheres to apply our efforts," Lavrov said.