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Training Council: The Republic of the Congo has asked the Russian Federation for help in training specialists
Russia and the Republic of the Congo have agreed on a joint economic action plan. Vladimir Putin stated this on April 29 during the Russian-Congolese talks. Russian business is interested in working in the republic's market, and Brazzaville sees Moscow as a reliable partner. The Russian Federation has already trained 8,000 specialists in various fields for Congo, and President Denis Sassou Nguesso asked the Russian side to additionally organize training for specialists in the fishing industry.
The program of the President of the Republic of the Congo
President of the Republic of Congo Denis Sassou Nguesso is in Russia on a state visit. He arrived in Moscow the day before and will stay in Russia until May 2. He has a large political and cultural program ahead of him: he has already laid a wreath at the Grave of the Unknown Soldier, and the African guest is also planning a visit to the Federation Council and a trip to St. Petersburg.
President of Congo Denis Sassou Nguesso during the laying of flowers at the Grave of the Unknown Soldier in the Alexander Garden
However, the main part of his visit was, of course, the talks with Vladimir Putin that took place on April 29 in the Kremlin.
— Thank you, Mr. President, dear friend. Thank you for the warm, friendly welcome that was extended to us yesterday, today, and always," Denis Sassou Nguesso said at the meeting in a narrow format.
The last time the heads of state met was in September 2025 in Beijing at events marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. Sassou Nguesso regularly flies to Russia — he was in Moscow in May 2025 at the Victory Day Parade. Before that, twice in 2024: in November, he participated in the BRICS summit in Kazan and in June, he paid an official visit to Moscow. At the same time, he may visit Russia again in October — Vladimir Putin personally invited his colleague to the third Russia—Africa summit. Denis Sassou Nguesso did not directly answer whether he would arrive or not, but expressed confidence that the summit would definitely be crowned with success.
Vladimir Putin meets with President of the Republic of Congo Denis Sassou Nguesso in Beijing, China, September 3, 2025
Despite the frequent contacts between the presidents of the two countries, this particular visit is particularly noteworthy — and not only because it has the status of a state visit (the highest according to diplomatic protocol).
— I want to congratulate you on the election results, and we are very pleased that after the inauguration you chose Russia as the first foreign country that you visit, — said Vladimir Putin.
Denis Sassou Nguesso took the presidential oath on April 16 and assumed the post of head of state for the eighth term. He has been at the helm of the Republic of the Congo for almost 42 years. It was Denis Sassou Nguesso, along with Leonid Brezhnev, who signed the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation between the USSR and the People's Republic of the Congo in 1981.
Today, the country's main partners are China and France. Beijing buys a significant portion of Congolese oil and actively finances the republic's infrastructure, while Paris also remains the largest player in the Congo's oil sector. So far, Moscow is not one of Brazzaville's leading trading partners and occupies rather secondary positions. The trade turnover between the two countries is also relatively small — about $280 million in 2025. With China, for example, in Congo, it is estimated to be at the level of $4-6 billion. At the same time, Brazzaville is still showing interest in Moscow as one of the important partners with whom it is necessary to "check the clock," Vsevolod Sviridov, deputy director of the HSE Center for African Studies, told Izvestia.
— A large delegation led by Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak has just returned to Russia from the Congo. They flew there for the inauguration and also worked out aspects of bilateral cooperation there. The Government has just been reassigned in the Congo, so a new cycle of the country's political system is beginning. And here it is important for the states to synchronize, to identify priority areas of cooperation at a new stage," he added.
What are the bilateral interests of the Russian Federation and Congo
At a meeting in a narrow format, Denis Sassou Nguesso noted that relations between Russia and the Republic of the Congo have been successfully developing for many decades, and the current state visit should only strengthen them. The intergovernmental commission makes its contribution.
The Russian leader also sees good prospects for the development of bilateral relations, and in different directions. For example, on the humanitarian track, the parties have worked productively in the field of personnel training: 8 thousand specialists from the Republic of the Congo have graduated from Russian educational institutions. And now 850 young people are continuing their studies in the Russian Federation. The head of the African country added that today the republic is particularly interested in training specialists in such areas as, for example, fishing.
The Republic of the Congo is considering new projects that can be developed with the support of the Russian Federation, including education and agriculture. We have all the necessary conditions for the implementation of joint initiatives with Moscow today, he said. Vladimir Putin confirmed that Russian business is interested in working in the republic's market. The two countries have agreed on a joint economic action plan for the coming years, which is scheduled to be signed during the visit of the President of Congo to Russia.
Many domestic energy projects are being implemented in the republic. These include Lukoil's participation in offshore oil and gas production, and the Pointe-Noir—Loutet—Maluco-Tresho oil product pipeline project, which has been under development over the past few years.
— This is a very large infrastructure project that requires a lot of preparatory work. The project can potentially contribute to the development of Russian-African relations and the export of technologies and energy resources from Russia, but at the same time it needs to be worked out in detail. It is good that the parties are not in a hurry with the project yet, but are trying to coordinate all the details at the preparatory stage," Vsevolod Sviridov told Izvestia.
The events surrounding the UAE's withdrawal from OPEC and OPEC+ could also become an important topic of negotiations. Oil forms the basis of the economy of the Republic of the Congo, which is part of OPEC. Russia is a member of the OPEC+ format. According to Sviridov, the leaders of the countries are likely to exchange views on the situation, which will clearly affect the global oil market.
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