Closing remarks by President Cyril Ramaphosa during the Plenary Session of the 3rd South Africa-Mozambique Bi-National Commission, OR Tambo Building, Pretoria

Your Excellency President Filipe Nyusi,
Honourable Ministers,
High Commissioners and Senior Officials,
Ladies and gentlemen,

On behalf of the South African government and the citizens of our country, allow me to convey my gratitude to you, Mr President, for the positive deliberations we have had. 

I wish to thank you for your continued commitment to the enhancement of our bilateral relations. 

The progress we have made is commendable and demonstrates the importance we place on our relations. 

I would like to acknowledge the work done by our respective Ministers and senior officials. 

With our history and proximity to each other, our fortunes are bound together.

The comradeship between our countries continues to inspire us to work harder for our people as we pursue a shared vision for the region and the African continent. 

Trade cooperation between our two countries continues to show steady growth.

Mozambique remains one of the most important trading partners for South Africa.

There are enormous opportunities for investment in both countries.

We encourage the private sectors to continue working together in the South Africa-Mozambique business forum. 

We encourage our business people to form joint ventures to drive economic growth and create job opportunities.

We have agreed to continue working together to fight the scourge of terrorism and extremism in the region, and to further create an enabling environment for sustainable development, especially for youth and women. 

We have committed ourselves to the promotion of a peaceful, united and prosperous African continent. 

As part of the unity and integration of the continent, we will continue to work together on the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement. 

Allow me, Your Excellency, to once again thank you for accepting my invitation. 

The fruitful deliberations we have had here today further deepen our friendly relations and provide a foundation for greater progress.

I thank you.