President Cyril Ramaphosa will on Tuesday co-chair the 11th Session of the Bi-National Commission (BNC) between South Africa and the Federal Republic of Nigeria, with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, at Tuynhuys, Cape Town.
South Africa and Nigeria are this year marking 30 years of diplomatic relations, established in February 1994.
The BNC will be preceded by the Senior Officials’ Meeting from 28 – 29 November 2024, and the Ministerial Meeting on 2 December 2024.
In March 2016, during the State Visit by South Africa, the BNC was elevated to Presidential level. There has been a number of exchanges of high-level visits between the two countries, including the visit to Nigeria by President Ramaphosa to attend President Tinubu’s inauguration ceremony held in Abuja on 29 May 2023.
In turn, President Tinubu attended the inauguration of President Ramaphosa in June 2024 and had an opportunity to exchange views.
“South Africa regards Nigeria as a strategic partner in the context of bilateral relations in the West Africa region, and the continent in pursuing the vision for Africa’s renewal, South-South cooperation, and in the promotion of a rules-based international system of governance. The two countries share a common vision on issues of political and economic integration of the African continent,” the Presidency said in a statement.
There are currently 34 Agreements and Memoranda of Understanding between the two countries, which cover a wide range of fields including economic, technical, scientific, social and tourism, amongst others.
The two countries share historical relations dating back to the struggles against colonialism and apartheid, during whic Nigeria supported the African National Congress and other liberation movements. Nigeria spearheaded various campaigns, calling for political and economic sanctions against the apartheid system.
In December 1989, Nigeria championed the adoption of the landmark UN Declaration on Apartheid and its Destructive Consequences in South Africa.
“The BNC is expected to further deepen the existing political relations between South Africa and Nigeria and celebrate thirty years of unbroken diplomatic relations between the two countries since 1994.
“It will also provide an opportunity to explore new possible areas of economic, trade and investment cooperation,” the Presidency said.
A business roundtable between South Africa and Nigeria will follow after the conclusion of the BNC on 3 December 2024. Nigeria accounts for approximately 64% of South Africa’s total trade with the West African Region. – SAnews.gov.za
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