Today, the President of the Republic, Filipe Nyusi, received in his office the head of Russian diplomacy, Sergei Lavrov, who is visiting the country. The meeting is part of the strengthening of bilateral relations.

A statement from the Presidency of the Republic revealed that the meeting in Maputo is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. and takes place right after another meeting that had already been announced, between Lavrov and the Mozambican Minister of Public Works, Carlos Mesquita.

"The leaders will discuss strengthening relations of friendship, solidarity and cooperation, as well as the political, social, economic and security situation in both countries. They will also exchange views on the war in Ukraine," reads the statement.

Mozambique is one of the countries that abstained from voting in the United Nations (UN) General Assembly to condemn the Russian invasion of neighboring Ukraine.