President Bola Tinubu will depart France Today for Cape Town, South Africa, to co-chair the 11th session of the Nigeria-South Africa Bi-National Commission (BNC) alongside President Cyril Ramaphosa.
The presidential BNC, scheduled for Tuesday, December 3, will be preceded by a ministerial meeting on Monday, December 2, 2024, at the South African Parliament Building in Cape Town.
President Tinubu and President Ramaphosa are set to engage in substantive discussions on a wide range of issues of mutual interest, encompassing bilateral, regional, and international matters.
These discussions aim to build on the commitments made during their meeting on June 20, 2024, in Johannesburg, shortly after President Ramaphosa's inauguration for a second term in office. The leaders will also review progress achieved since the 10th session of the BNC, held in Abuja from November 29 to December 1, 2021.
The 11th session will feature deliberations across eight working groups, each focusing on a specific area of mutual interest. These include: Political consultations, Consular and migration, Banking and finance, Defence and security, Manufacturing, Social sector, Mines and energy, Trade and investments
During the high-level meeting, officials from both countries will sign several Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) and agreements, further cementing their bilateral cooperation.
Established in 1999, the Nigeria-South Africa Bi-National Commission serves to strengthen the ties of friendship and cooperation between the two nations. The first session at the Heads of State level was held in October 2019 in Pretoria. The BNC provides a platform for sustaining high-level dialogue and promoting collaboration in critical areas such as diplomacy, economy, trade, security, and other areas of shared interest.
This year's meeting holds special significance as it coincides with the 25th anniversary of the Commission, underscoring the enduring friendship and cooperation between Nigeria and South Africa.
President Tinubu will be accompanied by a high-level delegation comprising state governors, ministers, and senior government officials. He will return to Nigeria after the conclusion of the BNC meeting.
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