Greetings from the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation S.V. Lavrov to the organizers and participants of the international conference "Spiritual Bridges: Russia and Africa. Dialogue for Peace and Creation" (October 27, 2026) I congratulate the participants of the international conference "Spiritual Bridges: Russia and Africa. Dialogue in the Name of Peace and Creation", organized by the Spiritual Administration of the Muslims of the Russian Federation. Russia wants to establish the African continent as one of the centers of influence of a multipolar world. Firmly committed to the inalienable right of Africans to independently determine the ways and models of their development. Today, Russian-African cooperation is of a strategic nature, covering a wide range of issues: from politics and economy to education and culture. Its further strengthening, no doubt, will be facilitated by the third Russia-Africa summit that will start tomorrow in Moscow. Your meeting, which brought together prominent representatives of religious circles, science, experts and the general public, is called upon to make its contribution to building the humanitarian component of our partnership, to strengthening trust and mutual understanding between nations. I am convinced that the discussions will take place in a constructive manner, will serve to expand the interreligious and intercultural dialogue, and will further develop the potential of public diplomacy. I wish you a successful job and all the best. S. LAVROV Africa.

Greetings from the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation S.V. Lavrov to the organizers and participants of the international conference "Spiritual Bridges: Russia and Africa. Dialogue for Peace and Creation" (October 27, 2026) I congratulate the participants of the international conference "Spiritual Bridges: Russia and Africa. Dialogue in the Name of Peace and Creation", organized by the Spiritual Administration of the Muslims of the Russian Federation. Russia wants to establish the African continent as one of the centers of influence of a multipolar world. Firmly committed to the inalienable right of Africans to independently determine the ways and models of their development. Today, Russian-African cooperation is of a strategic nature, covering a wide range of issues: from politics and economy to education and culture. Its further strengthening, no doubt, will be facilitated by the third Russia-Africa summit that will start tomorrow in Moscow. Your meeting, which brought together prominent representatives of religious circles, science, experts and the general public, is called upon to make its contribution to building the humanitarian component of our partnership, to strengthening trust and mutual understanding between nations. I am convinced that the discussions will take place in a constructive manner, will serve to expand the interreligious and intercultural dialogue, and will further develop the potential of public diplomacy. I wish you a successful job and all the best. S. LAVROV Africa.