Pretoria - President Jacob Zuma has declared the visit to the Republic of Senegal a “great success”.
“We have achieved our goal and a lot has been accomplished at economic and political levels during this visit. There will be a lot of progress going forward,” said President Zuma, who concluded his visit to Senegal on Wednesday.
The visit, which was aimed at strengthening social, economic and political relations between the two countries, was a first by a South African Head of State.
Zuma and Senegalese President Macky Sall, accompanied by their ministers, held successful talks, and agreed to strengthen cooperation in areas such as agriculture, mining, trade, tourism, higher education, training, scientific and technical research, and energy.
They also expressed their satisfaction with the dynamic military cooperation between Senegal and South Africa, marked by intensive exchanges between the two countries’ armed forces.
The two Presidents expressed their wish for consolidated investments between Senegal and South Africa, and also welcomed the South African Department of Trade and Industry initiative to organise -- on the sidelines of the state visit -- a Business Forum and Technical Mission, with the view to promote contacts between the two countries’ public and private sectors.
Sall said South Africa’s Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) should remain involved in the realisation of the Blaise Diagne International Airport (AIBD) in Diass, Senegal.
Similarly, he praised the interest expressed by South African public and private companies (IDC, Transnet, Lonrho and TMMF Holdings) to form a consortium and participate in the realisation of the Dakar-AIBD-Thies Railway Project.
Zuma and Sall said there should be strengthened cooperation between Senegal and South Africa in the domain of air transport to make Dakar a hub that will serve the entire West African region.
The two countries agreed to pursue the establishment of a well-developed aviation maintenance service, capable of meeting the demands of this sector. They instructed their ministers responsible for this sector to take the necessary steps as soon as possible.
Cooperation agreements signed
Cooperation agreements in agriculture and arts and culture were signed during the visit.
These include agreements on:
- Economic and Technical Cooperation;
- The Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion;
- Energy Cooperation;
- Environmental Cooperation;
- Cooperation in the Field of Livestock; and
- The Waiver of Visa Requirements for holders of official and diplomatic passports.
Gorée/Robben Island project
Meanwhile, Zuma and Sall said it was important to finalise the Memorandum of Understanding on the twinning of Gorée and Robben Island, taking into account their historic and cultural importance, as well as the important symbolism of the two sites.
President Zuma visited Gorée Island and the site where Africans were kept before being sent abroad as slaves.
Zuma said every African should visit Gorée and learn what Africans went through during the slave trade.
“It is the most inhumane act that can ever be visited by humans on others. The twinning of Robben Island and Gorée Island will certainly enable the two historical sites to share experiences and best practices and will promote the tourism route between the two countries. The two islands will always have a special place in our history as symbolising the triumph of the human spirit over evil,’’ said Zuma.
Continental matters
The Heads of State also exchanged views on the progress of implementation of one of the key outcomes of the 5th BRICS Summit held in Durban earlier this year, including the agreement to establish a common Development Bank, which could support infrastructure development efforts in Africa.
With reference to the situation in Mali, the two Heads of State praised the return to constitutional order in that country. They also shared views on the challenges related to the fight against terrorism in the Sahelo-Saharan region and in Africa, particularly in view of the recent tragic events in Kenya.
The leaders discussed the need for United Nations reforms, especially that of the Security Council, and the need for Africa to have a permanent seat. They were hopeful that peace and democratic order would be established through peaceful solutions in Egypt, and noted with satisfaction the agreement concluded on Syria's chemical weapons.
President Sall accepted an invitation from President Zuma to visit South Africa. – SAnews.gov.za
