KAMPALA - Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni on Wednesday urged Russia to renew its interest in Africa noting that the continent has a great potential in stabilizing the world.

A State House statement issued here said that Museveni made the remarks during a meeting with the visiting Russian deputy foreign affairs minister in charge of African and Middle East Affairs, Mikhail Bogdanov.

Russia should pick interest on the continent as it did in the past, the Ugandan leader said.

Bogdanov who is in Uganda to oversee a retreat of Russian Ambassadors in the East African region pledged his country's readiness to work together with Africa to ensure that peace prevails.

He hailed Museveni for his support in maintaining peace not only in Uganda but also in the whole region.

Uganda provides the bulk of the African Union peace keeping troops in volatile Somalia.

Bogdanov's visit to Uganda comes shortly after other visits by high ranking government officials from France and China.

Henri de Raincourt, the French minister for cooperation who was in Uganda last week, described the East African country as a strategic partner in the Great Lakes region.

Earlier, Museveni in a meeting with visiting Chinese Defense Minister Liang Guanglie said his country is willing to work with China to promote regional peace and stability and to build a harmonious world.