MOSCOW, January 25. /TASS/. Moscow expects cooperation with Pretoria to develop not on the basis of payments in dollars, but on the basis of national currencies, Ambassador at Large, Head of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum Secretariat Oleg Ozerov said at the Valdai Discussion Club when speaking about the relations between Russia and South Africa.
"We know for sure that our cooperation will not be through dollars. Other prospects are opening though. This is, first of all, cooperation in national currencies. We can work in national currencies that are not under sanctions. Consequently, this means using the Russian national currency. We should be moving in this direction with more confidence, demonstrating opportunities for our partners to use our national currency," he said.
It is possible to use the rand in payments between the countries, "since it is the currency of not only South Africa, but the whole of Southern Africa and SADC (South African Development Community - TASS) member states," the diplomat said, adding that the yuan is another option.
Moreover, Russia will find solutions to prior issues that will allow fully restarting cooperation with South Africa, he noted. "The creation of a common BRICS currency is a long-running process, though we need quick solutions that will already allow us to restart trade with South Africa, as well as creating and financing joint projects. Those solutions are actively being searched for now," Ozerov said.