Moscow:Russian President Vladimir Putin has extended an invitation to African airlines to commence flights to Russia. His announcement came during the plenary session of the Russia-Africa Economic and Humanitarian Forum held in Moscow.

According to Anadolu Agency – English, Putin emphasized Russia's readiness to enhance cooperation with African countries in multiple sectors, including trade, energy, pharmaceuticals, and transportation. He highlighted the potential for African airlines to contribute to building reliable logistics routes that could significantly boost trade and investment.

Putin outlined that Russia could assist in the design, construction, and modernization of various infrastructure projects such as railways, roads, sea routes, and transport hubs, incorporating digital management and tracking systems. He projected that trade between Russia and Africa is poised to exceed $50 billion soon, supported by Russia's involvement in over 30 energy projects across 16 African nations.

The Russian president noted the significant growth in Russian-African trade, which surpassed $27 billion last year, up from $18 billion in 2022. He expressed confidence in doubling this figure and exceeding the $50 billion mark. Russia also plans to establish local production of medicines and vaccines in Africa, along with setting up laboratories and diagnostic centers.

Putin spoke about the increasing influence of African countries on the global stage, viewing it as part of a shift towards a multipolar world where the voices of the majority are more prominent. He also recalled Russia's historical support for African liberation movements and economic development.

Furthermore, Putin criticized Western strategies, describing them as attempts to push African countries into a 'debt trap' and labeled tariff wars and sanctions as 'tools of neocolonialism.' He advocated for reforms in the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank to better serve developing economies' needs.

The forum coincides with a two-day Russia-Africa summit, the third since 2019, attended by numerous African leaders. Later in the day, Putin also engaged with leaders of Africa's regional organizations at the Kremlin and visited an exhibition related to the summit.