South Africa sees Russia as a valued ally, President Cyril Ramaphosa said at a bilateral meeting with Russia's Vladimir Putin on Tuesday, on the eve of the BRICS summit of emerging economies that will take place in the Russian city of Kazan.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has told his counterpart, Russian President Vladimir Putin, that he will use the XVI BRICS Summit to brief him and other world leaders on the decision to establish a government of national unity.

In the meeting with Putin, Ramaphosa communicated the priorities of the seventh administration, highlighting the strategic importance of the Russian Federation to South Africa, and exchanged views with Putin on issues of mutual interest.