Russian President Vladimir Putin will co-chair the plenary session of the third Russia-Africa Summit in Moscow on October 29 alongside Burundian President Evariste Ndayishimiye, the current chair of the African Union, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova announced on Wednesday.

The two-day summit, scheduled for October 28-29, will bring together Russian officials and African leaders to discuss trade, investment, security, and broader economic cooperation. The agenda will also include peaceful nuclear energy, independent payment systems, food security, digitalization, and artificial intelligence.

“We have effectively reached the final phase of preparations. Work is being carried out in close cooperation with our African partners,” Zakharova said. 

Putin is expected to hold bilateral talks with African leaders and meet with heads of regional organizations on the sidelines of the summit. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will host a working breakfast for his African counterparts on October 28. Zakharova said a substantial package of intergovernmental agreements and commercial contracts is expected to be signed during the event.

According to the spokeswoman, most African delegations have confirmed their participation, with invitations extended to all African heads of state and leaders of regional organizations.

Last month, Zakharova said Western governments were pressuring African states to boycott the gathering and described the interference as a continuation of colonial-era practices. Lavrov also accused France of trying to dissuade African leaders from attending, warning that President Emmanuel Macron would use a visit to Africa to exert pressure.

On Monday, Russian Foreign Ministry official Tatyana Dovgalenko said Western countries continued to exert diplomatic pressure on African governments and had even resorted to financial blackmail to prevent their participation.  

The inaugural Russia-Africa Summit in Sochi in 2019 drew official delegations from all 54 African countries, with 45 represented by heads of state or government. The second summit in St. Petersburg in 2023 drew official delegations from 48 countries, with 27 represented by a head of state or the second-highest-ranking official.