“We are working on strengthening relations with Latin American countries; we admire with respect the interest in learning the Russian language and culture,” Putin stressed in his State of the Nation Address on Thursday.

The president noted that with ASEAN, Africa, and Arab countries, we observe a potential with plans and new points of contact in this partnership.

“We see great prospects in building a great Eurasian partnership, combining integration procedures inside the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI),” he noted.

The head of State pointed out that the Russia-Africa summits “have become a real breakthrough. The African continent is asserting its interests and the right to genuine sovereignty. We sincerely support all of these goals.”

According to the Russian Constitution, the president addresses the Federal Assembly with annual messages on the situation in the country and the main directions of the State’s domestic and foreign policy.

This address is the 28th in Russia’s modern history and the 18th for Vladimir Putin. It lasted two hours and six minutes and broke a record in speaking time.

The previous extensive address occurred in 2018 and lasted one hour and 55 minutes.

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