South Africa and Zambia have concluded discussions aimed at fostering increased trade relations for the mutual benefit of both countries.
On Tuesday, President Jacob Zuma received Zambian President Chagwa Lungu in his capacity as chairperson of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Organ on Politics, Defence and Security.
This was President Lungu’s first visit to South Africa since his election on 20 January 2015.
The two leaders, who discussed a wide range of bilateral, regional and international issues, also acknowledged that Zambia has emerged as one of South Africa’s top three trading partners on the African continent.
As such, the two Presidents emphasised the need to work towards increased trade between the two countries.
It was President Zuma who acknowledged that the long-standing Zambian support for the liberation struggle in South Africa had led to the establishment of deep mutual bonds between the people of these two countries.
The two also underscored the need to further enhance the strategic bilateral cooperation and partnership between the two nations. They pledged their joint commitment to these effects.
They reaffirmed the importance of the Joint Permanent Commission for Cooperation (JPCC), which was signed in 2005.
The two Heads of State directed the Ministers of Foreign Affairs or International Relations and Cooperation to convene an inaugural session on the JPCC during the course of 2015.
Source: South African News Agency
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