ST. PETERSBURG, July 27. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin has given his Zimbabwean counterpart Emmerson Mnangagwa a helicopter as a gift, Zimbabwe's Information Ministry said.

"His Excellency President Putin has given His Excellency President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa a Presidential Helicopter, which will soon be delivered to Zimbabwe," the ministry said on Twitter.

Putin and Mnangagwa had earlier held a meeting on the sidelines of the Russia-Africa summit in St. Petersburg.

Zimbabwean Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Frederick Shava previously told TASS that the African country was considering purchasing additional Russian-made helicopters.

The second Russia-Africa summit is taking place at St. Petersburg’s Expoforum convention center from July 27-28. An economic and humanitarian forum is running in parallel to the event. Like the previous summit, the upcoming one will be held under the motto For Peace, Security and Development. The Roscongress Foundation is the summit’s organizer while TASS is the summit’s photo hosting agency and media partner. TASS is also holding the second Russia-Africa Media Forum.