Tunisian president confers with South African counterpart

A Tunisian official source reported on Wednesday that Tunisian President Zein al-Abidin Bin Ali on Wednesday met in Tunis with South African President Thabo Mbeki, currently on a private visit to Tunisia.

The Tunisian news agency said, quoting a spokesman for the Tunisian presidency, that the two presidents discussed "firm" cooperation relations between Tunisia and South Africa and expressed their satisfaction over the "excellent" level of these relations and that they stressed the need for "upgrading " the speed of this cooperation in all fields, especially in matters pertaining to boosting trade exchange and partnership.

Talks which were held at the presidential palace in Cartage also dealt with current regional and international issues, especially the situation in Africa.

The two presidents expressed their " decisive will" to maintain collective efforts on the African and international levels in order to settle disputes and achieve "security and stability" in the interests of the peoples of Africa.

Mbeki, who is accompanied by his wife is, for one week, spending a holiday in Tunis after he took part in the 35th summit of the Organization of African Unity held in Algiers on July 12 - 14.