MOSCOW, October 23. /TASS/. The second Russia-Africa Summit contributed to establishing regular and structured interaction between the sides, Andrey Maslov, Director of the Center for African Studies at the HSE University, said at the Valdai International Discussion Club. He was speaking during a panel discussion titled "Russia and Africa: Is it for the Long Haul?"

The expert noted that after the first Russia-Africa Summit in Sochi in 2019, the pandemic disrupted regular engagement, causing a COVID-related slump in activity.

"However, we moved forward to the second summit in St. Petersburg, which took place in 2023. It demonstrated a completely different level of interaction, because since the St. Petersburg event, Moscow and Russia as a whole have hosted as many African heads of state as attended the summit itself. This means that a consistent, structured interaction, balanced across various regions and levels, has been established," Maslov pointed out.

"We now have partner countries with whom quite diverse mechanisms of interaction are in place, along with sector-specific tracks. In a number of ministries, the respective deputy ministers in charge of international relations are now deeply engaged in African issues. They don't just remember Africa when a summit comes around. They regularly keep African files on their desks and maintain - what is crucial -working, informal, and direct contacts with their counterparts in several countries," the expert emphasized.