South Africa, Angola Ink Development Cooperation Agreements

South Africa, Angola Ink Development Cooperation AgreementsPretoria, Dec 15. -South Africa and Angola have raised the level of their bilateral relations by signing five development cooperation agreements.

They are Memoranda of Understanding on Public Works and Infrastructure Development, Telecommunications and Information Technologies, and a Declaration of Intent on the Utilisation of Financial Facilities, reports BUA News on Wednesday.

In addition, an Energy Implementation Plan and a Protocol on Technical Cooperation on Veterinary Services were also signed.

The accords were inked during the current state visit of Angola's President President Jose Eduardo Dos Santos.

"The signing of these instruments is a clear indication of our collective determination to take our relations to higher levels for the mutual benefit of our respective countries," President Jacob Zuma was quoted as saying by BUA News.

Angola and South Africa will move toward the finalisation of other outstanding agreements. These include an Arts and Culture Agreement, an Agreement on Education and a Merchant Shipping Agreement.

In their talks the two leaders emphasised the importance of strengthening bilateral relations in a number of fields, including energy; agriculture; mining; arts and culture; infrastructural development; communications; education; health and sport.

They also discussed the need to reform the United Nations, particularly the Security Council, and the Bretton Woods Institutions, which deal with funding, reports BUA News

Angola will assume the Chair of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) in 2011. South Africa will take over the Chair of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security.

In 2009, South African exports to Angola amounted to more than 806 million dollars, whilst Angolan exports to South Africa rose to almost 1.76 billion. (Prensa Latina)