SOCHI, Russia — On Saturday, Russia commenced the inaugural ministerial conference of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum in Sochi, aiming to strengthen its relationships with African countries and counter the perception of being hindered by Western sanctions.

This gathering is positioned as a follow-up to the Russia-Africa summit held last summer, during which Russian President Vladimir Putin engaged with leaders from the continent, proposing enhancements to political and business collaborations.

The two-day conference, featuring various government officials and business leaders from both Russia and Africa, is expected to occur regularly in a similar format, according to Anton Kobyakov, an adviser to Putin.

Maria Zakharova, spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry, stated via the RIA Novosti news agency that the conference has effectively “dashed dirty hopes” related to Russia’s potential isolation.

She further noted that numerous bilateral discussions were in progress between Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and African representatives, emphasizing the “multipolarity” highlighted by this event.

Lavrov is anticipated to address the plenary session scheduled for Sunday, contributing to the dialogue around the Russia-Africa partnership.