Pretoria - South Africa and oil-producing Angola have signed five bilateral agreements which are expected to take their relations to higher levels.
The agreements, which were signed on Tuesday, are the Memoranda of Understanding on Public Works and Infrastructure Development, Telecommunications and Information Technologies, and a Declaration of Intent on the Utilisation of Financial Facilities.
In addition, an Energy Implementation Plan and a Protocol on Technical Cooperation on Veterinary Services was signed.
"The signing of these instruments is a clear indication of our collective determination to take our relations to higher levels for the mutual benefit of our respective countries," President Jacob Zuma said.
He was briefing the media after holding talks with his Angolan counterpart, President Jose Eduardo Dos Santos, who is here for a state visit.
Zuma told a media briefing in Pretoria that they had directed ministers to work towards the finalisation of other outstanding agreements. These include an Arts and Culture Agreement, an Agreement on Education and a Merchant Shipping Agreement.
During the talks, the two Presidents indicated that they were pleased with their bilateral cooperation.
They also emphasised the importance of strengthening bilateral relations in a number of fields, including energy; agriculture; mining; arts and culture; infrastructural development; communications; education; health and sport.
"Of particular importance is the need to prioritise economic cooperation through trade and investment, thus create job opportunities in our respective countries," said Zuma, adding that the South Africa-Angola Business Forum will go a long way in identifying further areas of economic cooperation between the private sectors of the two countries.
Angola will assume the Chair of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) in 2011. South Africa will take over the Chair of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security.
"Therefore, our two countries will be entrusted with responsibilities ranging from economic integration to peace, security and stability in the region," added Zuma.
They also discussed the need to reform the United Nations, particularly the Security Council, and the Bretton Woods Institutions, which deal with funding.
The relationship between the two countries is a friendship that goes back a long time. Angolan territory provided a base for many African National Congress (ANC) operatives working towards dismantling the apartheid administration in South Africa.
In 2009, South African exports to Angola amounted to R5.5 billion whilst Angolan exports to South Africa amounted to almost R12 billion.
Today, Zuma and Dos Santos will visit Robben Island.
