Much opportunity exists for increased economic co-operation between Russia and South Africa in a wide range of fields, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday.
Speaking in Cape Town at a round table meeting involving top business leaders from both countries, he repeated a statement made earlier in his visit that Russia was poised to invest billions of dollars in the South African economy.
The 53-year-old Russian leader listed areas in which such co-operation could be promoted, including manganese mining, diamonds, electricity generation, space research, the automotive industry, marine technology, biotechnology and tourism.
”There are lots of opportunities for the development of mutually beneficial partnerships,” he said.
President Thabo Mbeki, speaking at the same venue, said there was ”a need for us to act, to solidify this relationship”.
He said there was ”a keenness to build on and strengthen our relations with Russia”. – Sapa