国际英语新闻:S. Africa to cooperate with Saudi Arabia in fighting terrorism

CAPE TOWN, March 28 (Xinhua) -- South Africa will enhance cooperation with Saudi Arabia in fighting regional terrorist threat to domestic and regional security and stability, the Presidency said on Monday.

In this regard, the two countries agree to work to ensure closer bilateral intelligence cooperation, said the Presidency.

This came as a result of Presient Jacob Zuma's state visit to Saudi Arabia on March 26-27.

The visit offered South Africa an opportunity of an overview of the regional security challenges from Saudi Arabia's perspective, Zuma said in a statement disbributed by the Presidency.

South Africa is looking forward to the possibility of sharing its own experiences with regards to negotiation and reconciliation to assist in moving towards peace and security in that region, Zuma said.

South Africa and Saudi Arabia will also promote the stabilisation efforts of South Africa's Middle East Peace Process (MEPP) Special Envoys in support of international efforts to find a lasting solution to the Palestine-Israeli conflict, Zuma said.

He said the two countries also agree to seek support for South Africa's application of Observer Membership of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).

Economic and political ties between South Africa and Saudi Arabia have received a significant boost following the successful visit, said Zuma.

"Bilateral relations between South Africa and Saudi Arabia have been further cemented by the state visit which has successfully served as an important structural catalyst for strengthening bilateral political and economic relations particularly in the areas of trade and investment as well as in expanding bilateral trade in support of business in targeted sectors," Zuma said.

This visit, he said, will ensure, among other things, continued Saudi private sector investment in South Africa's renewable energy sector in support of the National Development Plan; the South African petrochemical sector; banking and finance; tourism infrastructure as well as Saudi participation as a maritime state in our Operation Phakisa, a project to boost the ocenic economy.