Saudi Arabia, South Africa for establishing strategic partnership

Saudi Arabia and South Africa have asserted commitment to establishing continued strategic partnership based on solid cooperation in all fields to explore means to put such a partnership into actual implementation and to reach an agreement in the areas of energy, sciences, technology, trade, investment, industry, youth, culture and defense.

A joint Saudi-South African statement released on Tuesday following the visit of of South Africa's vice president to Saudi Arabia, indicated "the positive results of the two countries' leaders' efforts to strengthen international peace and stability."

They expressed confidence that playing such a role would be maintained through enhancing official cooperation between the two countries. The statement added that the two countries' leaders reviewed "points of strength in their economies and found out that the existence of a framework for economic integration would serve the interests of the two countries."

On Tuesday, the South African vice president held a meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz. He also held intensive talks with the Saudi King and crown prince and other high-ranking Saudi officials.

The joint statement described talks held between South Africa's vice president and Saudi officials as centered on: "several key and vital issues of mutual interest on the bilateral and international levels."