SA, Burundi sign agreements

12 August 2011 - 15:23 By Sapa
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President Jacob Zuma and Burundi President Pierre Nkurunziza witness the signing of agreements by their higher education ministers, Blade Nzimande, left, and Julien Nimubona, during Zuma's state visit to Burundi yesterday. Zuma said their talks and agreements signed were an indication of a collective determination to take relations between the two countries to higher levels. He said they reflected developments relating to the East African region and global and multilateral matters of interest and concern. The presidents exchanged views on Africa's latest political developments. Zuma reiterated South Africa's commitment and support for Burundi's work under the auspices of the African Union peacekeeping mission Picture: DIRCO
President Jacob Zuma and Burundi President Pierre Nkurunziza witness the signing of agreements by their higher education ministers, Blade Nzimande, left, and Julien Nimubona, during Zuma's state visit to Burundi yesterday. Zuma said their talks and agreements signed were an indication of a collective determination to take relations between the two countries to higher levels. He said they reflected developments relating to the East African region and global and multilateral matters of interest and concern. The presidents exchanged views on Africa's latest political developments. Zuma reiterated South Africa's commitment and support for Burundi's work under the auspices of the African Union peacekeeping mission Picture: DIRCO

South Africa and Burundi have signed agreements to cooperate in agriculture, sports and recreation, economic cooperation and defence, says President Jacob Zuma.

"We want to see visible action from this state visit. The memorandum of understanding on economic cooperation concluded during this visit will surely unlock the economic potential between the two countries," Zuma told a South Africa-Burundi business forum in Bujumbura, Burundi, on Friday.

Zuma arrived in the central African country -- where he was involved in negotiating a ceasefire deal to help end the civil war which raged from 1993 to 2006 -- on Wednesday.

"We enter day two of the visit confident that the two countries will go far in the process of cementing relations that were forged in the trenches of working together for peace and stability in Burundi," Zuma said in a speech prepared for delivery.

He said the countries had agreed to cooperate on alleviating poverty through emphasising trade and investment.

"Our departments responsible for trade and industry have been directed to prepare a programme of action that will outline how the two countries will work together to boost investments and increase volumes of trade between the two countries."

Zuma said there were various possible areas of cooperation including tourism, energy, infrastructure development, financial services and transport.

"We will also work together to promote skills development and research through the envisaged partnerships in higher education and training and we have signed an agreement in this regard," he said.

South Africa would deliver 3 000 soccer balls to Burundi youth as a start to cooperating in sports.

"Such engagement at an informal level will surely further cement the good relations between the two countries."

Zuma said the progress made in a short time to develop Bujumbura was inspiring.

"We are moved generally by the atmosphere of achievement and of hard work. Everybody wants to do something to boost development in their country, and this augurs well for the future," he added.

He was accompanied by Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande, Defence and Military Veterans Minister Lindiwe Sisulu and Deputy Trade and Industry Minister Thandi Tobias-Pokolo.

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