Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met in Moscow with Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of South Sudan Awut Deng Acuil, Foreign Ministry’s website reports and cites Lavrov as saying, “We are eager to develop our bilateral ties in the real economy – trade, economic, humanitarian cooperation and other spheres too.”
At a news conference following the talks, he further noted, “We have discussed the prospects of bilateral cooperation, first of all with an emphasis on the development of its economic element. We have spoken about the prospects in energy, transport, infrastructure development and personnel training. Our South Sudanese friends showed their interest in establishing contacts in all these areas. The first contacts between our countries’ companies took place during the Russian Energy Week and the St Petersburg International Economic Forum, among other events. Based on those contacts, we came to share the opinion that it is necessary to expand them. We informed our colleagues about the Russian companies working in the oil and gas, infrastructure, railway and transport sectors that are ready to discuss possible mutually beneficial projects with our South Sudanese partners. We have agreed to promote direct contacts between our economic operators. We have been reassured that Russian companies that will go to South Sudan will find themselves in a comfortable work environment, including security and conditions on which they will negotiate with their partners.”