Mozambican President Nyusi to pay first state visit to South Africa

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Tuesday 20 Oct 2015 - 17:13 Makkah mean time-7-1-1437 Mozambican President Nyusi (Google image) Pretoria (IINA) – Mozambican President Filipe Jacinto Nyusi is to pay his first state visit to South Africa this week, news agencies reported. Nyusi's visit, which follows an invitation by President Jacob Zuma, will further deepen the existing bilateral relations and cooperation between the two countries. According to the Presidency, the two countries enjoy a cordial relationship and President Zuma has visited Mozambique twice this year, the first on a state visit in May and in September where the two leaders unveiled the Matola monument in memory of South African martyrs who were killed by the apartheid regime during its infamous raids to neighboring countries in search of African National Congress (ANC) targets. During the visit, relations between the two countries will be elevated into a Binational Commission (BNC), which will replace the Heads of State Economic Bilateral Forum (HOSEB) and the Joint Permanent Commission of Cooperation (JPCC). The two Presidents will chair the BNC which will meet annually alternating between the Pretoria and Maputo. "Historically, Mozambique and South Africa have strong economic relations as evidenced not only by the presence of over 300 companies operating in Mozambique, but also in the high number of trade volumes. "Mozambique remains South Africa's top trading partner in Africa. In 2014, South African exports to Mozambique amounted to 32.6 billion South African Rand, while imports from Mozambique to South Africa totaled R11.3 billion," said the Presidency. AB/IINA