Maputo, July 8, 2026 (Lusa) - Russia’s minister of foreign affairs, Sergey Lavrov, begins a two-day visit to Maputo on Thursday with a working meeting with his Mozambican counterpart, Maria Manuela Lucas, the Mozambican Government announced on Wednesday.

In a statement, the Mozambican ministry of foreign affairs and cooperation said that at Thursday’s meeting the two ministers “will discuss deepening and revitalising the historic relations of friendship, solidarity and cooperation”.

The two ministers will also discuss “the political, social and economic situation in their respective countries and regions”, the statement added.

It adds that the Russian foreign minister’s two-day visit to Mozambique, which runs until Friday, “is in response to the invitation extended by Minister Maria Manuela Lucas during her visit to the Russian Federation in July 2025”.

The Russian Ambassador to Mozambique, Vladimir Tararov, met last March with the secretary of state for foreign affairs and the Mozambican Community Abroad, Maria Manso. At the time, according to Russian diplomatic sources, the meeting provided an opportunity to discuss “current issues on the bilateral agenda, including prospects for strengthening political dialogue at the highest and highest levels”.

“Moscow and Maputo confirmed their intention to continue coordinating their actions on the international stage, as well as within international organisations, primarily the UN. Particular attention was paid to the arrangements for developing trade and economic relations”, the Russian Embassy stated in a press release at the time.

In her capacity as co-chair of the Russian-Mozambican Intergovernmental Commission for Economic and Scientific-Technical Cooperation, the Mozambican minister emphasised the importance of holding the commission’s next meeting by the end of 2026.

The Mozambican Government plans for the country's president, Daniel Chapo, to undertake six state visits in 2026 – to Canada, Botswana, Angola, Russia, China and Vietnam – and to sign five international agreements.

PVJ/AYLS // AYLS

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