Moscow is backing social initiatives as cooperation pillars in the Central African Republic

A Russian education ministry delegation has paid an official visit to the Central African Republic (CAR) and toured a site in the capital, Bangui, where a joint academic center will be built, Moscow announced on Monday.

According to a press release on the Russian government website, the officials met with CAR's Minister of State for National Education, Aurelien Simplis Kongbele-Zingas, and discussed major aspects of cooperation, particularly the implementation of the 'Russian Teacher Abroad' project, which promotes Russian language.

"Steps to introduce Russian educational standards into the curricula of schools in the CAR, including the integration of modern Russian teaching methods, were also considered," the statement said.

The team from Moscow was led by Usman Rassukhanov, the director of the ministry's Department for the Integration of the National Education System and International Cooperation.

"The parties emphasized the importance of strengthening bilateral cooperation in the field of education, which will not only open up new opportunities for students and teachers in the CAR, but will also become another step in the development of humanitarian ties between the two countries," it added.

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The former French colony, one of several African countries that consider Moscow a close ally, is among six states on the continent with which the federal agency for international cooperation, Rossotrudnichestvo, said it signed agreements to establish cultural and educational centers (Russian Houses) last September. The move brought the number of countries hosting such venues to 16, with projects focusing on scholarships for African students to study in Russia based on the popularity of the Russian language and preparatory classes in their own countries.

On Monday, the Russian government announced that the its education ministry delegation had visited the Russian House in Bangui and held talks with its director as part of their trip to the CAR.

"At the meeting it was noted that the development of education is one of the main promising areas of cooperation between Moscow and Bangui," it said.

CAR President Faustin-Archange Touadera called relations between Russia and his country a "model for all of Africa" during talks with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in Moscow in January. The visiting president thanked Putin for grain and fuel donations, as well as for supporting the lifting of a diamond export embargo on the Central African Republic. At the meeting Putin also reiterated Russia's commitment to providing humanitarian aid.

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In November both leaders agreed to explore ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation in areas such as politics, economics, and humanitarian assistance.

Apart from education, agriculture, and humanitarian partnership, Moscow has defense agreements with the landlocked country, which has endured decades of militant violence and political instability, including six coups, since gaining independence from France in 1960. Last year, Moscow's envoy to the country stated that plans were underway to build a Russian military base in CAR.