Representatives of BRICS nations attended the BRICS political parties plus dialogue in Pretoria, South Africa, on Dec. 4, 2018. (Xinhua/Zhao Xi)

BRICS countries are becoming alternative development partners for Africa, and cooperation with the group presents both political and economic opportunities for Africa, a Rwandan political analyst says.

KIGALI, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- BRICS composed of five emerging markets including Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa are becoming alternative development partners for Africa with different foreign aid policies, a Rwandan political analyst said here on Thursday.

Having big countries like China and Russia as friends presents both political and economic opportunities for Africa and Rwanda, political analyst and secretary general of the Rwanda Association of Local Government Authorities Ladislas Ngendahimana told Xinhua in an interview as African countries were attending the first Russia-Africa Summit in Russia's Black Sea resort city Sochi.

Media delegates posed for photos at the second edition of BRICS Media Joint Photo Exhibition in Cape Town, South Africa, July 18, 2018. (Xinhua/Chen Cheng)

It is not only good for Rwanda and Africa, but also an opportunity for the peoples of Rwanda and Africa to get open doors to foreign and global markets, said Ngendahimana.

The photo shows a logo of Rwanda Digital Trading Hub of Alibaba Electronic World Trade Platform Yiwu Global Innovation Center at the Kigali Logistics Platform in Kigali, Rwanda, on Sept. 7, 2019. (Xinhua/Lyu Tianran)

Rwanda's President Paul Kagame and several cabinet members including Minister of Trade and Industry Soraya Hakuziyaremye, Minister of Infrastructure Claver Gatete, CEO of Rwanda Mines, Petroleum and Gas Board Francis Gatare and Minister of State in charge of the East African Community Olivier Nduhungirehe were present at the two-day summit, local media reported.

Rwanda Mines, Petroleum and Gas Board and Russian State Geological Company, on the sidelines of Russia-Africa Economic Forum that took place alongside the summit, signed a mining and hydrocarbon cooperation agreement on undertaking geological surveys, conducting exploration and providing equipment and services in the mining, oil and gas sectors.

Previously, Rwanda and Russia had signed an agreement on cooperation in the field of the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.■