Pretoria - President Jacob Zuma will on Tuesday receive Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe for a state visit.
The objective of the two-day visit in Pretoria, according to the Department of International Relations and Cooperation, is to consult on issues of mutual interest, paying particular attention to bilateral and economic cooperation, including regional and continental matters.
“The visit will further strengthen the historical, cultural and fraternal bonds that exist between South Africa and Zimbabwe,” the department said in a statement.
The visit will see the signing of several agreements, including the Bi-National Commission Agreement, whose objective will be “to elevate bilateral relations between the two countries”.
South Africa and Zimbabwe share common historical and cultural bonds anchored on Zimbabwe’s support for South Africa’s liberation struggle.
Economic cooperation between the two countries has grown well over the past decade as evidenced by the presence of a large number of South African companies in Zimbabwe as well as the increasing trade volumes.
In 2014, South Africa’s exports to Zimbabwe amounted to R24.8 billion, while Zimbabwe’s exports to South Africa reached R2 billion. - SAnews.gov.za
