UPDATE 1: State Visit Of South African President To UAE Marks The Beginning Of A New Chapter In The Long Standing Relations

State visit of Cyril Ramaphosa, President of the Republic of South Africa, to the UAE on 13th July 2018, marked the beginning of a new chapter in the long standing relations between South Africa and the UAE, according to a joint statement issued in Abu Dhabi at the end of Ramaphosa's visit to the UAE.

ABU DHABI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM - 14th Jul, 2018) State visit of Cyril Ramaphosa, President of the Republic of South Africa, to the UAE on 13th July 2018, marked the beginning of a new chapter in the long standing relations between South Africa and the UAE, according to a joint statement issued in Abu Dhabi at the end of Ramaphosa's visit to the UAE.

The joint statement reads: At the invitation of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Cyril Ramaphosa, President of the Republic of South Africa, paid a state visit to the UAE on 13th July 2018.

President Ramaphosa’s first visit to the UAE marked the beginning of a new chapter in the long standing relations between South Africa and the UAE, and constitutes a step in further enriching the strong bilateral ties between the two countries.

On arrival in Abu Dhabi on 13th July, President Ramaphosa was accorded a ceremonial reception and was received by His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces. President Ramaphosa also met with H.H. Lt. General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior, H.H. Sheikh Tahnoun bin Zayed Al Nahyan, National Security Adviser, H.H. Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, and H.

H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.

On the centennial of the birth of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Nahyan, Founder and first President of the UAE, and Nelson Mandela, former President of South Africa, the leaders of the UAE and South Africa pledged to open a new chapter in bilateral relations.

To this end, the leadership of the two countries reaffirmed their deep commitment to further consolidate their strong bilateral relations across a variety of fields, including trade, transport, infrastructure development, tourism, mining, investment, and cultural cooperation.

To support these efforts, a business forum was held between the UAE and South Africa, hosted by Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansoori, Minister of Economy. The UAE announced its plans to invest US$10 billion in key sectors of South Africa’s economy, such as tourism and mining among others, to support the sustainable development of the country.

The UAE further welcomed South Africa’s positive role in supporting peace and stability on the African continent and the two sides pledged to work closely together in order to promote peace, stability, prosperity, and tolerance in Africa and the middle East.