The meeting of His Excellency Albert SHINGIRO with His Excellency SERGUEI LAVROV, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation in Sochi

On the diplomatic situation, His Excellency Ambassador Albert SHINGIRO said that Burundi has just adopted a new foreign policy centered on the economic diplomacy. This policy is based on five pillars, namely the attraction of foreign investment, trade, technology transfer, the promotion of tourism and other growth sectors and the development of major infrastructures. This policy allows Burundi to strengthening, both qualitatively and quantitatively, the mutually beneficial cooperation ties in the above-mentioned areas with our partners who wish to invest in Burundi.

This meeting also focused on the exchange on the current regional and global issues and the challenges to which these two countries attach a particular interest and finally sharing the political, security, economic and diplomatic situation in Burundi.
Regarding the political situation, His Excellency Ambassador Albert SHINGIRO informed his colleague that Burundi has returned regained the political stability after several years of conflicts and political tensions which have set the country back in terms of socio-economic development; and that in 2020, Burundi has acquired the state institutions through democratic, free and transparent elections that were financed by the Burundian people without outside assistance.
To conclude this interview, His Excellency Ambassador Albert SHINGIRO pointed out that Burundi reaffirms its attachment to the relations of friendship, brotherhood and cooperation with the Russian Federation and its firm commitment to strengthening, diversify and strengthening them further in the interest of two respective nations. He ended by inviting his colleague to come to Burundi to further deepen their discussions on ways and means to strengthening the relations of friendship and cooperation between the two Governments.
On the security front, His Excellency Ambassador Albert SHINGIRO said that Burundi is now stable and calm and that Burundians are benefiting from the dividends of peace to tackle the socio-economic development issues to improving their living conditions.
For the multilateralism to which the humanity aspires in order to meet the major global challenges facing the world at this time, such as the maintenance of peace and security in the world, the fight against terrorism and violent extremism, the reform of the security council, climate change, the migration crisis, medical crises, digital transformation…, His Excellency Ambassador Albert SHINGIRO said that Burundi advocates fair, equitable, inclusive multilateralism, respectful of the intrinsic principles and values ​​of each nation. . A multilateralism whose rules of the game are applicable to all countries regardless of their size, geographical location, level of development and weight in global governance.
 It was also an opportunity offered to both parties for extending, strengthening, reinforcing  and further diversifying the relations of the friendship and the cooperation between these two countries; medical relationships whose 60^th anniversary was celebrated on october 7, 2022 at Bujumbura.
Economically, he said that Burundi is endowed with two essential resources for successful development, including abundant and diversified natural resources (gold, nickel, rare earths, etc.). The second resource is the youth, which represents 65% of the Burundian population. He also spoke about the new agricultural policy by which Burundi is trying to achieve food self-sufficiency in terms of basic agricultural products which are almost all produced locally.
On thursday, march 23, 2023, His Excellency Ambassador Albert SHINGIRO, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Development Cooperation of the Republic of Burundi held an interview with Mr SERGUEI LAVROV, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation in a meeting held in Russia at the city of Sochi. This interview conveyed frank and sincere political and diplomatic discussions on the state of the cooperation between these two countries in the various areas of common interest.
For bilateral cooperation, His Excellency Ambassador Albert SHINGIRO then added that Burundi is quite naturally proud to maintain relations of friendship and cooperation with the Russian Federation and its people and that Burundians salute the solidarity of Russia which has placed Burundi among the priority countries with which it maintains close relations based on respect and mutual trust, as well as the general quality of the dialogue and partnership that exists between these two countries. The relations of friendship and cooperation between the two countries are also manifested by mutual visits through which cooperation agreements and memoranda of understanding were signed between the Government of the Republic of Burundi and the Government of the Russian Federation.
At the international level, His Excellency Ambassador Albert SHINGIRO added that the Government of Burundi welcomes the political proximity of Russia and Burundi and the convergence of points of view on issues of common interest in international forums. He also said that Burundi will never forget the political and diplomatic support of the Russian Federation in New York during the period 2014-2020 during which Burundi was under politico-diplomatic aggression by foreign actors, some of whom consider themselves unilaterally as regulators of the geopolitics of the world without having the mandate.
Regarding the resolution of conflicts and paradoxes in the different regions of the world, whether in Africa, Asia, America and Europe, His Excellency Ambassador Albert SHINGIRO pointed out that Burundi always stands on the side of solutions and not on the side of problems and he deeply believes that any dispute, regardless of its size and complexity, can always be resolved peacefully through the formidable tools that diplomacy places at its disposal such as dialogue, cooperation, negotiation, good offices among others. This could also apply to the current situation in Ukraine.

Source