Russia, Eritrea continue to unlock existing potential in trade

A senior Eritrean delegation, led by Foreign Minister Osman Saleh and Presidential Adviser Yemane Ghebreab, on Wednesday held talks in Sochi with Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

The two sides conducted friendly and comprehensive discussions spanning bilateral relations as well as regional and global developments, Lavrov told a press conference following the meeting.

With regards to bilateral relations, the two delegations focused on concrete measures to continue their cooperation in the political, economic, cultural, and military sphere.

Subsequent to their “productive talks”, the Foreign Ministers held a joint press conference, which underscored the convergence of views between both countries.

Minister Osman Saleh reaffirmed Eritrea’s independent and principled position on the “Ukraine pretext that has sadly sacrificed Ukraine and its people for the purpose of destroying the Russian Federation; just as the Taiwan issue is being foisted as a pretext to bring to a halt China’s peaceful rise by any means necessary, including violent conflict”.

In his address to reporters, Lavrov stressed that special attention was given to efforts to fully unlock the existing cooperation potential in the economic field.

“We outlined Russian companies’ particular interest in entering the Eritrean market,” he said.

“Our Eritrean friends vowed to come up with suggestions on the areas of efforts’ application with potential mutual interests from the viewpoint of attracting Russian business,” Lavrov added.

The Eritrean top diplomat was visiting Russia two months after Lavrov had visited the eastern African country in January. That visit was a first by Russia’s Foreign Minister since the two countries established diplomatic relations in 1993.