Moscow: Azali Assoumani, the president of the Comoros and the current head of the 55-nation African Union, said on Thursday that Russian investment has helped several African nations' economies recover.   

He said during the Russia-Africa summit in St. Petersburg that Moscow is a significant and trustworthy partner that has assisted Africa "in solving all the problems the continent faced."   

The summit is being attended by the leaders of 17 African nations who are hoping to improve relations with Russia and advance development initiatives on their continent. The significance of the occasion was emphasised by Assoumani as being "not only for Russia-Africa relations but for the whole world as Russia is a global power."  

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Vladimir Putin, the president of Russia, promised to send free grain to some of Africa's poorest countries within the next three to four months while speaking to the summit's plenary session.  

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The Russian leader announced that 25,000 to 50,000 tonnes of grain would be sent to Burkina Faso, Zimbabwe, Mali, Somalia, the Central African Republic, and Eritrea, with Moscow paying for delivery.   

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On July 27 and 28, the second Russia-Africa summit took place in St. Petersburg, Russia, alongside an economic and humanitarian forum.