OREANDA-NEWS. Russian President Vladimir Putin expects to meet with South African President Cyril Ramaposa at the BRICS summits (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) in November this year in Brasilia and in July 2020 in St. Petersburg. The Russian leader said this on Wednesday, opening a conversation with Ramaposa on the sidelines of the first Russia-Africa summit in Sochi.

“We are waiting for you both in May next year and in July next year in St. Petersburg at the 12th BRICS summit”, Putin addressed Ramaposa. He also noted that in three weeks he plans to meet with the President of South Africa at the 11th BRICS summit in the capital of Brazil.

Putin emphasized that the two countries have established close coordination at international sites. He also welcomed the activities of South Africa as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council in 2019-2020, noting that as the chairman of the UN Security Council working group to prevent and resolve conflicts in Africa, the republic "makes a significant contribution to ensuring stability on the continent".

The BRICS Summit will be held in Brazil on November 13-14, 2019. In 2020, the meeting of the "five" will be held by Russia as the chairing country, the summit will be held in St. Petersburg.