in africa and russia, so very important relationship for us, particularly south africa, given the role that the people of russia played, you know, struggle for freedom. so it's a, you know, relationship of brother and sister of comrades and friend. and this to continue that. then the 2nd would be to continue to establish strong bones in advancing the development goals of the african continent. and to ensure that the commitment that russia has both illustrative and expressed over many is continues to be given practically fact by the programs that we agree together and the actual execution. then the 3rd strand is of course people to people exchanges. we share much of an

interest in the creative offs in history, in a range of cool policy areas, security trade. so really looking at quite a wide spectrum of areas of partnership is, is really the, the ration offer our presence and perhaps fulton most important. and i'm really glad that president putin has agreed to this is to continue the discussions. we began earlier, the caea, a bundled africa playing a role in a c king, a peaceful outcome to the current conflict between russia and ukraine. so i would anticipate that our leaders will use the presence here in saint petersburg to continue that early discussion. which at the 1st flush,

it was really to start talking between africa, russia, africa, and ukraine. and hopefully now to start talking about next stages, minutes, the how did that go when the african delegation went to key of with the african piece initiative? as i understand the leadership in key of wasn't entirely up to mistake. but i, but i, i wasn't that i wasn't on the ground, but i know the african delegation pitch this piece proposal for the competing ukraine. what, what, what was the reactions, what can you tell us? well, i think the lines of communication open with both lead us both lead is a strong lead. the side is take it to, it's just ukraine. that was tough. i think, present in future those tough as well. but what was very positive was the reception that the african leaders received and an openness to listening to what they're presenting. and as i say at this particular summit,

a readiness to continue that discussion. and that's really important because remember that we have a 1st, a group of leaders who have this access to both need to ship of ukraine as well. as of russia efforts have created such a macbook feel facility. they could only speak to one and the other. so i think africa is in a unique position to play a very important role. i think it is in a very unique position that especially with this budgeting, multi poder world as well. i've, i've spoken to various people, the heads of state, from africa who have talked about the united nation. so it needs to be referral. it's a bit outdated, perhaps these days of african countries. it's on the fact that they get equal representation at the united nations, and they're all calls for the, for the you enter to be reformed. um, what do you think is it that the african nations that particularly south africa, can bring to that tables after you when, for example,

when it comes to balancing this multi polar wells? and i'm giving africa, it's, it's fast place on the stage. what can your confident do you think bring to the un and perhaps suggest for some sort of renovation that in new york, as you would know, south africa went through a very terrible and tar at the time of pop date. we were oppressed by a minority or pressing a majority. we waged that he really struggle against might. and so we have experience of dealing with unfitness. and much of the world actually support to the a positive state for a very long time. and it was very few friends who stood with us as we ways this target battle. so i think our experience of oppression makes us a very good candidate for understanding the meaning of freedom for promoting democracy in its full meaning and for supporting representative as

a part of the political definition that we'd give to ourselves. the south africans is unity in diversity. this means we reject racism and all forms of prejudice. and i think we should bring that into the multi lateral stage. when we speak, hope you nice is kind of united nations security council reform. what we're speaking of is great to representation, democratic processes, the security council of sale the world. because we have so much conflict all over the world. so it means the mechanism needs to be re for so that we can and show peace and security. we believe that the united nations remains the premier multi lateral institution and we would like to see any of that attempt to pull the global multi a troll body, which we'd like to seize,

reform and strengthening of the un. from time to time, the united nations has been used for political, it's a, it's been made the weapon by some against i was we have to end that. i must think having a diversity in its structure mechanisms allowing for democratic process. so for example, such as the, in the context of this conflict between ukraine and russia, the, the general assembly has been given a sort of deciding a role. but in no, it doesn't have that role. so i hope changes of that nature will be continued into the future to give a real meaning to the general assembly and not to have this notion that there are 15 countries that are able to determine the fate of the world. so that is what we,

we hopeful that there are signs indeed as he said, that the world institutions are up and that, that we may be seeing a global re making, you know, of a multilateral institutions and processes. i hope that will happen. and i think that for cuz it's much not miss this moment because it's probably once in a lifetime. and if we miss it, i'm not sure the opportunity will come very soon. once more. the word pressure that has come up in this conversation that have been some people, for example, some top officials in moscow. they did say that some african state leaders have received pressure from southern professional partners in the west, not to attend this russia africa summit here in st. petersburg. i don't know if any of that's true, but i have read the reports of this. um, how south africa received? well being under any pressure from southern professional partners, not enough to was 10 this time it will. and if your neighboring countries did,

they find themselves under any, any pressure not to attend the summit here in st. petersburg, you know, sort of africa is a country that doesn't accept being pressured by anyone. so i think a friends have learned over time that they need to be routed to dishes with us. so no, there's not been any such approach. and of course, should it ever occur? i'd make it absolutely public. so i think when we speak of, you know, developing a backbone, we each have spines and it must be all spine that is strong. so i think it is time that all continent realize that it has the possibility of being an extremely powerful part of the world. and we need to be formally in control of our own capabilities, our resources, and we should manage them to the interest of the african continent and not have

this notion that we owe someone something cuz that's the neo colonial ideal. so i think we need to begin to understand our own power and to use it to good effect for africa. when you say that africa should be in charge of its sovereignty should be in charge of its infrastructure. and it's mineral resources, for example, who is in charge of that now is it, is it not africa? so range of forces. i think there are private sector companies that are countries that abuse the results of africa. this is well known as recorded, can speak to intelligence sources, africa exports, it's mineral resources rule. it doesn't revolve. refined on the continent. we have the african continental free trade area agreement to which seeks to increase in for

african trade. but in terms of industrialization, very few african countries are at the level that they are significantly productive in manufacturing tubs. this most trains. uh so, i mean, i think it's well understood that even those who claim to be friends have really exploited the results as of the continent. and, you know, colonialism was about mineral resources was about extraction, but to no one, no press a will change the situation of oppression. it is you who are oppressed, who must change it. so i think we need to develop a different relationship with our resources, manage the myself, develop the ability to be innovative, use partnership such as a partnership with you, or the united states or russia for all interest and not the interest of others.

meantime, you have countries like china that's been investing in infrastructure in africa, whether it's a rhodes or schools or clinics, hospitals, electricity. as i understand russia has been investing in nuclear energy across definitely, continent. i believe if i'm up in egypt, there are several now nuclear facilities in that final stages of china and russia investing in, in this way in africa. can it be said that all professional populace in europe or the united states are also investing in the same kind of, perhaps humanitarian aspect as, as some of these are the eastern partners might be. i've been very a category in the statements of made previously that one of the features of our own political practice is we seek to be non aligned. so we don't attach to a particular country because that's very dangerous. we had that during what was called the cold war. and as africa we suffered,

men slay from being seen to be attached to the west or elsewhere. and so i have been extremely judicious and careful about asserting. uh, independence is very, very important. china is a very good friend to us, as of africa and to the african continent. i can see the change in infrastructure in several countries across the continent. but i still know as an african who is honest and realizes that we know yet we, we all and i think that the element of change that must occur is prop, poke control of our results is ensuring value edition is ensuring we do not tech support rule and by backside you added at very high prices, ensuring we've value add. and so as goes, so we need to change the african condition. and i have no fear

about saying we change is who ever the friend is. and this is very important because my interest is on the continent is people and whoever seeks to exploit us and to diminish our ability, whoever they be, whether they claim to be friend or not. we must deal with them for sale, russia, india, china, south africa, and maybe 40 ortho countries minister looking to join the bricks. strategic partnership is strategic alliance. that is a, it's growing legs faster than many people even imagine over the over recent years. bricks was a nice idea that they the um, the a for an investment, the infrastructure bank, for example, you know, the new development bank as well the bridge. so it was a great idea. and then it kind of went a bit quiet for a few years old, perhaps a bit behind the scenes. but now look what's happening to breaks minister pond or i

. every week there's a new development with the brit timely more and more countries looking to join it. this is, this isn't, it's almost like a new front line of being a pioneer. i think, as china said, when, when treating ping was in moscow a few months ago, we are witnessing the biggest changes in a 100 years in russia and china, a driving these changes. now, that's what he said, but look at the brakes minister. oh, this, this coagulation of very strategic countries around the world. whether in all these countries, what a joint, you know, saudi arabia wants to join, for example, energy rich nations, want to join nations representing the labor work forces of the world. want to join nations representing the most geostrategic ports, want to join minutes to pendle, what does bricks mean today for this? well, that's been so set with a, a western hedge them on. and now we're looking at what, what is this a southern southern growth? and this is multi polarity, what it's of what is going on with breaks. it's

a big part of you and you'll countries whether she, we're discussing expansion, which is very exciting. but i think really well done to break something new development bank. it's a bank that is working. we have very positive rating in world, a financial rating terms. and we've made significant contributions to infrastructure investment and support in the pose cobra data to all the brakes member states. and what is fantastic. we've grown from the $5.00 to $3.00 additional members. so in mount 8 and my anticipation is more, we'll join the bank as more members come on, but of course, the decision of expansion is not mine. it to be the heads of states in august, who will determine we've done our work as the foreign ministers. and have developed a k, a set of guiding principles, which we think will assist our leaders as they make a decision. but why,

why do people want to be positive? breaks brooks is a fresh, fresh for is progressive in ideals. it seeks to 1st us of peace, security and development. we not standing against anyone without sending for anybody. we work for the good of the world, then i think you need a body of that nature. so everybody is interested in briggs because they can see something different is happening. we're not seeking to weaponized the oceans. we're not seeking to weaponized before us. we're not seeking to weaponized climate change . we want to team concepts to address key development issues. and i think that is, that is the attraction that brooks has for so many countries. i'm actually spending a lot of my time having to reply to countries that want to know when i can only imagine the interest is growing by that day. like, like i said, minutes to every week there's a new development with,

with the bricks family in. there's so many thousands of countries looking to join. i have to ask you this professionally and personally, i find it fascinating story. the bridge summit is in august and there's an awful lot of tools as an awful lot of tools and i don't want to get ahead of myself and there's an awful lot of talk about potential breaks currency, a commodity currency, or gold, back currency, not personally, but my, my, my opinion is things like this, taken off a lot of time, an awful lot of time. if you look at the european union, how many countries have to settle on a euro, for example, and these big disparities, but between the smaller economies and bigger economies, it's complicated. but some people are talking about. the brakes are 5 college. these are the redman b, the re, out of the roop and, and, and so forth. and a lot of people out there a hopeful for an announcement about this possible new currency at the summit in august. is that anything minister you can tell us? well understand the president of the new development back is going to address the

lead is on this very subject. and we hope she'll give us some sense of what the future looks like. um, i do think that we need to have great to fitness in world trade and we need to ensure getting that financial assistance and the institutions. i'm not putting this to sized to a level that they become a battery, a, a to trait. so having greater diversity is extremely important, because once you attach to one car and c o one system, you then become somewhat of a hostage. and that's what we've go to and we have to have fed trade, proper systems, financial security. but you can be tied to one, and the moment is probably now to consider alternatives. so i'm hoping that we'll get direction from the brick summit. but i believe this is something that is not

the expertise of ministers of foreign affairs. that's why we rely on the president of the bank, and eventually the finance ministers of breaks to give us a sense of what is possible. but as i said, given the, when in the world today, the moment for changes now the moment to consider a new is now, i'm just going to ask you, okay, yes, there, there as well when in the world today, i guess that there are how hotspots and conflict, zions but, but why, why is now such a good time for change? do you think minister? well, i think for the 1st time, the hostility between nations and between powerful forces and the world has come out into the open the trade war between these as it states and try not to very big hours in, in the world, is out in the open. the,

the russia, ukraine conflict, the role of nato within that so sudden the very powerful elements all facing each other. and we're all going to have to find on this in that context and the answers i know going to be what we know the answers have to be a refresh, in my humble opinion. there's so much movement in the well, today when you talk about the breaks, the shanghai cooperation organization with the i see on the global south of course, the african continent. some people refer to these groups as a di, dollarization coalition. then moving away from the american donna now, yes, it's being the reserve currency essentially, since the great patrick will in the 2nd world war, but countries all diversifying away from the dollar there, increasing trade in national currencies. it's almost like every week administer. we have a new development with new countries co,

what coagulating together to fullness de dollars, action coalition. why is this happening and why now? well, i think part of it is that there's the sense, as i said, of being held hostage and a desire to be free from such a feeling. i know to so you mentioned all the regions, but you don't mention africa. and the, it's very, very important that you do factors in cuz we are incredibly important part of the world. and of course, we hold those important mineral resources which all such significance to ongoing world development. so don't fact africa out it's, it's critical that you don't never the less. and i do feel that one has to be judicious or careful about having too many organizations because then you lay the basis for conflict rather than full cooperation. so i think

a point will have to come with these various organizations actually speak to we talk about a convergence and how that is arrived that and i believe brooks might be a very important vehicle. uh for, for such a convergence. and this exactly what i want to say. for example, when i, when i say that the level south, i'm certainly not admitting the, the, the african it'll, when i say breaks. i'm also talking about africa in a very big way because i, i read a report from must go the other day. i'm maybe i'm wrong in the stuff that i read or pull the said. every african nation has been invited to join brakes. do you know about, oh no, no, this is not, this is not true. no, we don't invite to join at the moment we do have an outreach component of the brakes activities. be outreaching tubes. invitations to heads of regional organizations worldwide, as well as normally. so back because the chair tool african need is, uh,

so we have invited the heads of states as well as heads of regional bodies such as the golf council i see and so on. so this is a normal process of all of us follow a when we are chair of, of the breaks for when it comes to the russia, africa summit happening for the next few days here in, in, in uh, what we like to quote events of the north here in saint petersburg and it is such a beautiful city and as a great time of the year, it's a bit cloudy today, admittedly minute stuff, but it has been a beautiful summer. so far. this is, this is one of those rare opportunities to get people to the same table to get everyone on the under the same kind of pizza to discuss, discuss common goals. can you give me a little teaser as to um, are there other, any surprises or secrets in your back pocket that you want to unveil at the summit? any major concerns, any new plans, any new initiatives that,

that perhaps you can just give me a secret, little hint as to what might be coming. foreign ministers all is a secret. so that by no. um, i think that the, you know, the world is i to worry moments and i, i don't want to on the play a, the threat that faces us as the global community. if we're unable to resolve current challenges, you know, we're worried as the continental visual foot security, for example. so the brain initiative is very important, and we would want to see this resolved in a manner that addresses both the concerns of russia as well as the concerns of the african continent. so these issues that we would like to have greater deliberation on. um, you know, i often raise this concern about green exports with my colleagues and about the impact of unilateral sanctions, which are assigned to them that don't come through the united nations system. but

they impose by individual countries on other countries. and when i tell friends that to these in the lateral sanctions, owners have a full 2nd re fax, particularly for developing countries. they say to me, but we don't. essentials on food, we don't have functions on this and i say, but we have phoenix being packed. so i do think we need to resolve all the issues related to matches of food security. and that would be part of, i think, be more important, a side live discussions that will take place. yeah. also think about those of trade. i are going to enjoy a great deal of prominence and increasing the issues of digital the uh economy digital security uh, becoming uh, global matches that we have to have some improvement on because, you know,

to stop cyber attacks. to show cyber security. we have to call per a to my shared resources. so those would be important discussions. i see all security advisors are meeting. so we look forward to hearing what comes out of their deliberations as well. and all of us at fairly large business delegation. so hoping that some contracts will be fine when you talk about the, the black sea, colorado, the, the grand initiative, as i understand most ago, said that the grand initiative has only been temporarily suspended. it has not been closed. and the credit has said that it is open to find a way to further negotiate the resumption of the grand passage in the black sea cordele and the lady pandora, the foreign minister of south africa. i could talk to you old a. it's been so enlightening really fascinating and was so proud to have you here in saint petersburg for this summer. thank you very much for your time today. thank you. please me a thank you for the opportunity. the

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gall newbies, systems to good you do what i see these the buses. the little gear limitation says this tutorial on both of the with the russia, africa summit set to kick off president putting describes africa as one of the centers of the emerging multi fuller world are to speak to a south african foreign minister and the lady pandora who says africa must move beyond the legacy of neo colonialism. which is ton uh, that all continent realize that this has the possibility of being an extremely powerful part of the world. and we need to be formal in control of our own capabilities resources.