MOSCOW, May 24 (Xinhua) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin said Sunday that African countries have made impressive progress in economic and social development and are playing an "increasingly prominent" role in addressing major global challenges.
"Constructive cooperation has been gaining traction within the African Union and several subregional organisations. There are also emerging collective response mechanisms for dealing with local conflicts and crisis situations, along with consistent efforts to promote integration processes," Putin said ahead of Africa Day on Monday.
Putin added that the third Russia-Africa Summit in Moscow this October would open "new perspectives" for mutually beneficial cooperation. ■
