Pretoria - As South Africa and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) enter the second decade of the Bi-National Commission, the two sides need to identify key areas of cooperation which will move the two countries forward, says President Jacob Zuma.
“Key among those shall be the consolidation of peace and stability, institution building and the identification and implementation of economic projects, including the implementation of the Grand Inga as we need electricity for our development,” said President Zuma on Friday.
He was speaking at the opening of the 9th South Africa-DRC Bi-National Commission which is taking place in the DRC capital, Kinshasa.
President Zuma said the two nations have built, and continue to build, nations based on the rule of law, respect for justice and human rights, and the entrenchment of these principles of constitutional democracy.
“We see in the Congo an awakened giant fully capable of driving the African continent to greater prosperity and growth.
“Of course, at the very heart of our shared goals, is the continued development of our two countries, and our peoples, towards the eradication of poverty, and the improvement of the lives of our peoples, the regions we occupy, and ultimately the continent we call home.”
Pretoria and Kinshasa have long standing relations dating back to negotiations to end the DRC's civil war, holding the first and second democratic elections, clearing ghost workers in the public service and expanding trade.
South Africa is also the DRC's biggest supplier of foreign goods and services. Two-way trade has increased from R11 billion in 2012 to an estimated R13 billion in 2014.
President Zuma committed to continue working with the DRC to bring about sustained peace that will allow the eastern African country to function without any difficulties and continue to deliver to its citizens.
He said Africa’s time is now, and both Pretoria and Kinshasa must play their rightful roles in pursuit of the continental dreams as espoused in Agenda 2063.
“The time has come for us as a continent to unlock the potential of our two countries through sustainable management and development of our God-given natural endowments. It is time for strategic partnerships to drive the continental development trajectory,” he said.
President Zuma added that the time to identify critical economic projects that have the potential to put us on the road to industrialisation and economic prosperity of both countries was now. – SAnews.gov.za
