African nations must pursue their own foreign policy approaches without being beholden to other global powers or blocs.

This is the call from President Cyril Ramaphosa as he addressed the Russia-Africa summit in St Petersburg.

He says that African nations are shaping their own destinies and seeking ways to harness their natural resources.

This must be done in a way that will first benefit African nations and grow their economies through sustainable development.

Pointing to the refrain that Africa is mineral rich, but is only good for raw materials, President Ramaphosa noted that the continent must work towards exporting finished products of value.