A working session was held on Wednesday in Tunis, co-chaired by the Prime Minister, Mr. Mohamed Ghannouchi and the South African Deputy President, Mr. Kgalema Motlanthe, in the presence of the two countries' delegations.
Mr. Mohamed Ghannouchi noted that the meeting was an opportunity to review the two countries' relations and focus on the appropriate means and mechanisms to enrich and diversify bilateral co-operation, to keep it abreast with the political commitment driving President Ben Ali and President Jacob Zuma, in accordance with the two peoples' aspirations.
He emphasized the strength of bilateral relations which date back to the South African people's fight against racial segregation, stressing President Ben Ali's keenness to strengthen the bilateral co-operation relations, intensify consultation and step up meetings between officials of the two countries.
In this regard, he evoked President Nelson Mandela's visit to Tunisia, in 1994, to take part for the first time in the African Union's Summit.
He also praised the pioneering experience in the sector of medical co-operation between the two countries adding that it represents a stimulus to expand co-operation to other sectors, such as scientific research, technological innovation, information and communication technologies and other strategic sectors.
Mr. Ghannouchi stressed Tunisia's readiness to share its experience and expertise with South Africa, particularly in the fight against poverty, promotion of women's status, assistance to the needy, and the creation of social housing and social welfare.
He further stressed the importance of boosting trade exchanges "which remain below expectations and the opportunities the countries offer", reasserting the importance of developing mechanisms of co-operation in this area at the bilateral, multilateral and continental levels.
He also said that Tunisia is looking for South Africa's support to sign a preferential trade agreement with the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
He also voiced Tunisia's commitment to step up contacts and meetings between the two countries' businessmen to forge lasting and fruitful partnership ties.
Besides, Mr. Ghannouchi renewed Tunisia's congratulations to the South African Republic on being the first African country to play host to the World Football Cup, in 2010, underlining that this honor is a tribute for the whole African continent.
He also extended gratitude to the South African Republic for its support to the initiative of President Ben Ali to proclaim 2010 "International Youth Year", and for its keenness to contribute to the success of all events to be held within this framework, and more particularly the International Youth Congress.
On his part, the South African Deputy President expressed consideration for Tunisia's constant support to South Africa, particularly during the period of his country's construction, as part of the fraternity and co-operation relations binding the two countries.
He said that South Africa will seek inspiration from the Tunisian experience in the various sectors to achieve more progress and prosperity and take up the challenges in particular in the sectors of education, health, rural development, agricultural reform and employment.
He also hailed Tunisia as "an emerging country model that has managed to improve the living conditions of its population".
He pointed to the development of bilateral relations as reflected in the creation in 1996 of a joint committee, in addition to the exchange of visits and officials in both countries and the signing of some twenty co-operation agreements in several fields, stressing the will to expand co- operation to other areas, such as the sectors of sciences, technology, communication technologies, training, culture, arts, youth, as well as the military sector.
He said that his country wishes to draw on the expertise and potential of the Tunisian medical staff, noting that 80 Tunisian doctors are practicing presently in South African rural regions.
He commended the charity initiative taken by "Al Bassar Club" in 1997, enabling 1,300 patients from the underprivileged South African rural areas to recover their sight.
The South African official also emphasized the importance of co-operation between the two countries as part of peace missions in the African continent, as well as Tunisia's contribution to the military instruction of South African units deployed in the desert, which helped promote the South African forces' experience to work in desert conditions.
© Tunisia Online News 2010
