Pretoria - President Jacob Zuma is set to lead a delegation of five Cabinet ministers and representatives of business to France next week.
The visit, which will take place from 2 to 3 March, will see President Zuma and his delegation attending the opening of the South Africa-France business forum.
The President will also hold talks with French President Nicolas Sarkozy, his Prime Minister Francois Fillon and the mayor of Paris Betrand Delanoe.
During their meeting at the Elysee Palace, the two Presidents will hold in-depth discussions both on bilateral relations and global issues.
"The strengthening of the strategic partnership between the two countries through regular consultations and high level exchanges will also receive particular attention," Department of International Relations and Cooperation spokesperson, Clayson Monyela, said.
SA's role in Africa and within multilateral bodies, global economy, the French G20 Presidency and South Africa's hosting of the 17th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, will also be discussed in detail.
The political unrest in Ivory Coast, a former French colony, where there is a power struggle between the Ivorian President Laurent Gbagbo and his opponent Alassane Ouattara, will also feature in their talks.
The major objective of the talks is to strengthen trade and investment ties with France, as well as to address the challenges of a R10 billion trade deficit. A three-year framework for development co-operation will also be signed, among other agreements.
