Angola prez in SA to review shaky relations

  1. Posted on Monday 13 December 2010 - 12:50
    Mtheto Lungu
    Image of Mtheto Lungu
    Mtheto Lungu, AfricaNews reporter in Lilongwe, Malawi
    President Jose Eduardo dos Santos is in South Africa where he hopes to strengthen shaky relations with the former apartheid power house. The Angolan leader is on his first visit to meet President Jacob Zuma after a show of no cordial state visits for a long time between the two countries.
    Angola map
    Times Live reported incumbent President Zuma visited Angola last year but his predecessor, Thabo Mbeki, neglected to do so while in office. Zuma's personal relationship with Dos Santos is far much better than Mbeki's.

    He went to Angola accompanied by 11 ministers and had a strong business delegation in tow.

    A number of interstate agreements were signed on that trip, being Zuma's first international trip following his inauguration.

    "The two presidents will review progress on co-operation between the two countries," International Relations spokesman Clayson Monyela said.

    "Trade statistics between the two countries show steady growth," he told the press.

    Monyela said in 2009 economic giant South Africa's exports to Angola amounted to R5.5-billion and Angolan exports to South Africa were worth almost R12-billion. South African exports a wide range of products to Angola whereas 90% of Angolan exports to South Africa are petroleum related.

    It is expected that Dos Santos will be accompanied by several cabinet ministers, and by a business delegation that will participate in a forum on investment and trade.

    South Africa, which has little oil and relies on coal for most of its energy, wants a bigger role in Angola's oil industry the former Portuguese colony, Angola, in turn wants to attract investment and skilled labour from South Africa.

    "It is expected that trade co-operation between the two countries will grow against the backdrop of strengthened political relations," Monyela said.

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