Pretoria - President Jacob Zuma has arrived in Algeria for bilateral consultations with his counterpart President Abdelaziz Bouteflika.
The two countries enjoy close bilateral cooperation through the framework of the South Africa-Algeria Bi-National Commission of Cooperation (BNC), whose work is centred on the following key areas of interaction: quality of life and human resources, people-to-people relations, energy and infrastructure, natural resources, defence, safety and security and trade.
The two countries also share common positions on key African and regional issues, including the resolution of the Mali conflict through dialogue, and the combating of terrorism and organised crime in the broader Sahel region, as well as on the decolonisation of the Western Sahara.
The two leaders also seek to give the African Union more muscle.
In this regard, regional developments such as the situations in Mali, the Central African Republic as well as the Sahel and Maghreb regions will be high on the agenda.
Among other issues to be discussed will be the convening of the Sixth Session of the BNC in South Africa and the preceding BNC Ministerial Mid-Term Review to evaluate the status of bilateral relations.
President Zuma is accompanied by the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Maite Nkoana-Mashabane.
After his visit to Algeria, Zuma will proceed to Nigeria where he will hold similar talks with President Goodluck Jonathan. - SAnews.gov.za
