Obama meets South Africa\'s president on bilateral ties

U.S. President Barack Obama held bilateral talks with South African President Jacob Zuma here on Saturday with pledges to strengthen trade and investment between the two countries. During the talks between the two presidents, they discussed a variety of issues including ways of strengthening bilateral relation, trade and investment, development assistance and infrastructure development in Africa. In his welcoming speech, Zuma said: \"We are pleased to work with you today with a common goal of expanding trade and relation between our two countries.\" \"Mr President you are visiting Africa at the right time. We would like to see you invest in the South African economy for mutual benefit,\" Zuma said. Zuma told Obama that issues around youth development are key to his country. The South African president said that Obama carries the same responsibility as South Africa\'s former President Nelson Mandela carried when the country got freedom in 1994. \"Two of you are also bound by history as the first black presidents of your respective countries, thus you both carry the dreams of millions of people in Africa and the diaspora who were previously oppressed,\" Zuma said. Zuma expressed delight at the current status of cooperation between the two countries. \"We look forward to strengthening the US-Africa partnership and we are pleased with the growing bilateral trade investment,\" Zuma said. Zuma also urged U.S. to largely target its investment on infrastructure and skills development. \"We have urged that underpinning these investments should be the drive for regional integration, industrialisation and localisation of supply and manufacture,\" Zuma said. Zuma called for more American investment in education, innovation programmes, teacher training and in development of further education and training colleges. He also noted that the ongoing cooperation between the two countries in the area of defence was progressing well. Zuma expressed concerns about \"the mushrooming of rebel movements in some countries in the continent, at a time when the African Union is promoting adherence to its policy of zero tolerance for people who come to office through unconstitutional means.\" He said: \"We would like to cooperate with the U.S. in enhancing peace-building and post-conflict reconstruction and development cooperation, under the umbrella of the United Nations and the African Union.\" Zuma challenged the U.S. and the countries in the Eurozone not to abandon their pledges to Africa as a result of the economic and financial crisis in those countries. He also raised concerns about the lack of progress in the Middle East peace process. \"We unequivocally support the Palestinian bid for statehood and believe in the principle of a two-state solution. We have noted your latest attempts to revive the stalled negotiations and you have our support in this regard,\" Zuma said. In response, Obama expressed his commitment to improving and renewing the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). The act allows Southern African countries to ship key products to the U.S duty free. AGOA is set to expire in 2015, and South Africa is keen to see it renewed. He reiterated his government\'s commitment to strengthening bilateral relations with Africa. Obama wished formers South African President Nelson Mandela a quick recovery. \"Madiba\'s moral courage, and this country\'s historic transition to a free and democratic nation, are a personal inspiration to the world,\" Obama said. Obama also described the state of bilateral relation between America and South Africa as \"very strong.\" \"The US views South Africa as a critical partner and Mr President I very much appreciate our personal friendship and partnership,\" Obama said. \"You have noted Africa is on the rise and South Africa is always at the forefront,\" Obama added. The U.S. President also said South Africa was his top priority during his week- long African trip to promote trade and investment that will result in economic growth. He also applauded the amount of trade between the U.S. and South Africa. Obama said: \"We export more products to South Africa than any other nation in Sub Saharan Africa. South African companies are investing back in the USA.\" He also noted that there is enormous progress being made in Africa and pledged U.S.\' willingness to help Africa maximise its potential, through duty free exports among other things. \"Today almost all of South Africa\'s exports to the United States, 98 percent are already in our markets duty free and we also want to renew, improve and upgrade the African growth,\" Obama said. \"We are going to make sure that our trade negotiators get to a serious conversation on how we get a win win formula that delivers jobs and opportunities for people here in South Africa and also in the United States,\" said Obama. Obama arrived in South Africa on Friday in the company of his wife Michelle and daughters. His visit to South Africa is the second leg of the African tour that started in Senegal and will end in Tanzania. The American president\'s delegation also includes senior government officials, advisors and business representatives.