Mali and Russia sign agreement on nuclear energy
Mali and Russia signed several cooperation agreements on Monday, one of which concerns the peaceful use of nuclear energy, days after the country signed a similar agreement with Burkina Faso.
The agreements signed today on the sidelines of talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Mali’s transitional leader, General Assimi Goita, included an agreement defining the foundations of relations between the two countries, and another on establishing a government committee for trade and economic cooperation.
Prior to the signing, Putin and Goita held talks on relations between the two countries, marking the transitional Malian president’s second visit to Russia since assuming power.
Putin said on the occasion that Russia maintains relations with Mali in various fields, adding that the volume of trade between the two countries is modest, but heading toward growth.
Putin spoke of promising areas of cooperation between Mali and Russia, praising the 65-year-old diplomatic relations between the two countries.
For his part, Goita described relations between Bamako and Moscow as good, adding that the two sides had established cooperation in many areas, including transportation, security, culture, sports, and energy.
Goita expressed his hope for developing relations with Russia, adding that thanks to good cooperation with it, the two countries had achieved good results.
Separately, Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov held talks with his Malian counterpart, General Sadio Camara, on security cooperation between the two countries.
Belousov said that defense relations between Russia and Mali are developing dynamically, while Camara said that Russia’s fight against Nazism inspires his country, especially in the context of the special military operation.
Goita began a visit to Russia on Sunday, which will last until next Thursday, at the invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
He had previously visited the country in July 2023, where he participated in a Russia-Africa summit.
