Russia: Russia announced that it has written off $23 billion in debt owed by African countries under the "Debt for Development" program. In a dialogue session on Russia-Africa relations today, Marat Berdyev, Russian Foreign Ministry Ambassador for G20 Affairs, affirmed Russia's readiness to assist Africa.

According to Qatar News Agency, Berdyev stated that the global perception of Africa is undergoing a significant transformation. He noted that previous Western narratives portraying Africa as merely a subject of international politics in need of external support are now considered outdated.

Berdyev emphasized that Africa is moving steadily towards becoming a prominent player on the global political and economic stage. He highlighted that intra-regional trade within the continent is projected to increase by 80% in the foreseeable future, according to the World Bank. This growth in trade is expected to create a strong foundation for further cooperation between Africa and Russia.