MOSCOW, May 25 (RIA Novosti) - Russia will continue its efforts as a permanent member of the UN Security Council to help build a collective security system in Africa, the Russian president said on Monday.

"We have significantly expanded our assistance to African states in training national peacekeeping forces. Our country also participates in all UN operations in Africa," Dmitry Medvedev said in a letter to African heads of state and government on the occasion of Africa Day.

Africa Day is the annual commemoration of the 1963 founding of the Organization of African Unity (OAU). On this day, leaders of 30 of the 32 independent African states signed a founding charter in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

"The global financial crisis has seriously affected developing countries. Russia is consistently working toward more effective assistance to Africa on the part of the entire world community. We are determined to continue our participation in this effort in the framework of the UN, G8, and G20," Medvedev added.