MOSCOW, October 23. /TASS/. The Russian Foreign Ministry expects that cooperation projects with Africa will start working soon, Russian Ambassador-at-large, head of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum secretariat Oleg Ozerov said at the meeting of the Crimean-African business council.

"We expect that cooperation projects between Russian regions and African states will start working soon," he said, speaking at the council meeting, which takes within the Yalta International Forum.

Ozerov pointed out that very important documents were adopted during the second Russia-Africa Summit: the declaration and the plan of action on partnership in 2023-2026. This plan, the diplomat noted, "particularly emphasized the topic of international inter-regional and inter-municipal cooperation amid a qualitatively different geopolitical situation."

This plan has started working, he said, pointing out that Crimea, for example, is already actively cooperating with African states in the education area.

"We consider it of principal importance that the wish of our African friends and partners to see concrete effect of our return to the continent is fulfilled, including via promotion of the capabilities, of Russian regions," he concluded.

The Yalta international forum takes place in Moscow on October 23-24. TASS is the main informational partner of the event.