Strengthening diplomatic ties a key objective when Ramaphosa hosts Nigeria's Tinubu - Lamola
Strengthening diplomatic ties will be a key objective when President Cyril Ramaphosa hosts his Nigerian counterpart, President Bola Tinubu, in Cape Town on Tuesday.
FILE: International Relations Minister Ronald Lamola. Picture: DIRCO
CAPE TOWN - Strengthening diplomatic ties will be a key objective when President Cyril Ramaphosa hosts his Nigerian counterpart, President Bola Tinubu, in Cape Town on Tuesday.
Ramaphosa will co-chair the 11th session of the Bi-National Commission (BNC) between South Africa and the Federal Republic of Nigeria with Tinubu as the two countries kick of their engagement.
The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) said the two countries shared historical relations dating back to the struggles against colonialism and the apartheid.
Right after launching the country's G20 presidency in Parliament, President Ramaphosa will move on to the South Africa-Nigeria Bi-National Commission at Tuynhuys also in the parliamentary precinct.
The Bi-National Commission comes as South Africa and Nigeria this year mark three decades of diplomatic relations, which were established in
February 1994.
Lamola emphasised the close ties on Monday.
"This year marks 30 years since our two countries established diplomatic relations following decades of Nigeria's relentless support for the anti-apartheid struggle in South Africa, a gesture we will always cherish."
There are currently 34 agreements and memoranda of understanding between the two countries according to DIRCO, covering a wide range of fields from economic, technical, scientific, social and tourism.