South African president to visit Russia

South African President Jacob Zuma will pay an official visit to Russia from Aug. 4 to 6, South Africa's international relations and cooperation department said on Thursday.

According to the South African Press Association, his visit follows an invitation by Russian Federation President Dmitry Medvedev.

A bilateral meeting between the two presidents would be held in Sochi on August 5.

Relations between Russia and the African National Congress (ANC), which now rules South Africa were firmly established during South Africa's pre-1994 apartheid years when the Soviet Union actively supported the anti-apartheid struggle.

Full diplomatic relations were established in February 1992, two years after the ANC was unbanned in South Africa and two years before South Africa held its first democratic elections.

Russia has an embassy in Pretoria and a consulate-general in Cape Town. South Africa has an embassy in Moscow.

Two weeks ago South Africa's international relations minister Maite Nkoana Mashabane paid an official visit to Russia to further strengthen bilateral, political and economic relations between the two countries.

Nkoana-Mashabane's task was to fast-track draft agreements that will be signed during Zuma's visit.


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