Greetings on the opening of 2nd Russian-African International Conference on Combatting Infectious Diseases

The message reads, in part:

"Cooperation between our country and African nations in combatting the spread of dangerous infections has been developing rapidly of late. Relevant Russian agencies are providing comprehensive support to their African counterparts in strengthening biological security. A network of mobile anti-epidemic laboratories is being established across the continent, already comprising 20 modern scientific and technological complexes supplied by Russia. In addition, hundreds of African students and specialists are receiving education and training at Russian universities and research centres. Last year, the first-ever joint Russian-African exercise of rapid response teams for sanitary and epidemiological emergencies was held in Ethiopia.

I am confident that the participants of this conference - representatives of government agencies and international organisations, as well as scientists and medical professionals - will engage in substantive discussions, exchange expertise, and identify new forms and areas of cooperation to protect the health of the people living on the African continent."