MINISTER for Foreign Affairs and East African Co-operation, Dr Augustine Mahiga has underscored the need to turn the historic relations between Tanzania and South Africa into co-operation and partnership for prosperity of the two countries.
“We have enjoyed cordial and historic
relations dating back to founding fathers of Tanzania’s Mwalimu Julius
Nyerere and Nelson Mandela of South Africa.
The relations should now be translated
to improved economic ties. “Not only that, there is need for the two
partners to pass on the heritage of this historic relations and
liberation struggles to future generations in Tanzania and South
Africa,” he remarked.
Dr Mahiga was speaking during a
ministerial session with South African Minister for Foreign Affairs and
International Relations, Ms MaiteNkoana-Mashabane, ahead of the
inaugural session of Bi-National Commission (BNC), today.
The BNC is a unique forum established
between two countries to allow regular exchanges at cabinetlevel on a
wide range of issues, critical to them. Tanzania and South Africa agreed
on the arrangement during a visit by former Tanzania President Jakaya
Kikwete to South Africa, in Pretoria, way back in 2012, but it was yet
to be put into action.
President Jacob Zuma of South Africa,
who jetted into the country yesterday and his host President John
Magufuli are today expected to witness signing of an agreement and
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on co-operation in transport,
bio-diversity and conservation.
Speaking at the session yesterday, the
Minister said it was high time the two countries aimed higher in areas
of trade, investment and interactions for common interests. “We have
both recorded impressive figures in trade and investment, but we must
aim higher, the existing opportunities ought to be scaled-up.
The BNC sets the stage for a properly structured modality to achieve this,” he stressed.
Dr Mahiga said the ministerial session
had as well set out priorities and implementation plan for agreements to
be signed today, in addition to 14 others, which were inked in the past
between Dar es Salaam and Pretoria
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