MOSCOW, October 26. /TASS/. Forty-eight countries have confirmed their participation in the Russia-Africa summit in Moscow, with 22 of them to be represented at the highest level, Yury Ushakov, an aide to the Russian president for international affairs has said.

"It is important to note that 48 African countries - out of the 54 recognized by the UN - have confirmed their participation in this third summit. Twenty-two countries will be represented by their heads of state, while others will be represented by high-ranking officials, ministers, or other delegates," Ushakov said. He recalled that the previous summit also saw the participation of 48 countries from the continent, including 17 heads of state.

"As with previous forums of this kind, the leaders of major regional organizations have also been invited. These include the African Union, the African Continental Free Trade Area, the East African Community, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa, the Southern African Development Community, the Economic Community of Central African States, the Economic Community of West African States, the Arab Maghreb Union, and the African Export-Import Bank," he added.