MOSCOW, October 30. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin thanked Malian President Assimi Goita for visiting Moscow despite the difficult situation in the Sahel region, where Mali is located.

"We are grateful to you for finding the time to attend the Third Russia-Africa Summit despite the difficult situation in the region," Putin said at a meeting with Goita at the Kremlin. "You are always welcome in Russia," he added.

"We highly appreciate your personal commitment to comprehensively promoting partnership with Russia, as we remain in regular contact," the Russian president noted.

Putin also thanked Goita for his "firm support for Russian initiatives at the United Nations and on other international platforms." "We work in solidarity in addressing international relations," he said.

"Our trade and economic cooperation is gaining momentum, although trade volumes remain relatively small. Nevertheless, we expect to make further progress in this area, particularly through the intergovernmental commission, which became operational last year," Putin specified.

The Russian president also highlighted the interstate framework agreement on the foundations of relations between Moscow and Bamako, which entered into force in May. "This month, we celebrated the 66th anniversary of diplomatic relations between our countries, which were established in October 1960," he added.