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South Africa’s Deputy President Visits Russia to strengthen Economic Ties
Deputy President Shipokosa Paulus mashatile aims to bolster economic cooperation during his trip.
MOSCOW – Deputy President Shipokosa Paulus Mashatile arrived in Moscow on June 17, 2025, for a working visit focused on strengthening economic and trade relations between South Africa and Russia.
The Deputy President was received by Deputy Head of State Protocol, Mr Andrei Milyaev; Deputy Director of the African Department, Mr Andrei Stolyarov; and Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Alvin Botes.
The visit will concentrate on enhancing economic cooperation in sectors including agriculture,automotive,energy,mining,science,and technology.
The Deputy President’s itinerary includes engagements in Moscow and St. Petersburg,facilitating high-level discussions and economic diplomacy.
In Moscow, Deputy President Mashatile is scheduled to meet with prime Minister of the Russian Federation, HE Mr Mikhail Mishutin, and to lay a wreath at a memorial dedicated to South African liberation figures, John beaver (JB) Marks and Moses Kotane.
The second part of the visit will be in St. Petersburg, where the Deputy President will meet with President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, and participate in the 28th St. Petersburg International Economic forum 2025 (SPIEF ’25), which is themed: Shared Values: The Foundation of growth in a Multipolar World. The forum is scheduled from June 19 to 21, 2025.
Deputy President Mashatile is expected to participate in the plenary of SPIEF ’25 and has been invited to speak at the Russia-Africa Business Dialogue.
On the sidelines of SPIEF ’25, Deputy President Mashatile is slated to deliver a Public Lecture at the St Petersburg State University on South Africa’s G20 Presidency in a rapidly changing Geopolitical Habitat and speak during the opening of the South African Trade and Investment Seminar.
The St. Petersburg segment of the visit aims to promote South Africa’s trade relations and its attractiveness as an investment destination.
This working Visit marks Deputy President mashatile’s first to the russian Federation as assuming office. It follows several recent visits by South African leaders, including President Cyril Ramaphosa’s visit to Kazan for the BRICS Summit in October 2024; Deputy Minister of International Relations & Cooperation, Ms Thandi Moraka’s participation in the First Russia-Africa Ministerial meeting in November 2024; Minister
