HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and President Jacob Zuma of South Africa chaired a session of official talks on Tuesday evening, at the Presidential Palace in  Pretoria.
The South African president welcomed HH the Emir and the accompanying delegation and thanked him for his accepting the invitation to visit South Africa, expressing his aspiration to strengthen the bilateral relations between the two countries.
HH the Emir thanked the South African president for the warm reception and hospitality, and hope that this visit would be a step forward in the relations between the two countries.
During the meeting, the two sides discussed bilateral relations and means of developing them in  in order to achieve common interests in various domains including agriculture, energy, industry, tourism, economy and trade.
The two sides agreed to raise the level of trade exchange between the two countries to more than $1bn by 2020.
On the political arena, the two sides discussed the strategic issues related to regional and global security and the developments of regional and international political events, especially those related to the Middle East.
They reviewed the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and stressed the urgent need to revive the Arab peace initiative and the importance of reaching a just solution based on the two-state solution, in accordance with the related United Nations resolutions, international legitimacy and the agreements signed between the Palestinian and Israeli sides.
On Libya, the two sides stressed the necessity of preserving the unity, integrity and sovereignty of Libya, by establishing security and stability in the country and supporting it in the fight against terrorism, and stressed the importance of the African Union’s role in contributing to this.
The two sides also affirmed the continuation of joint efforts with the international community regarding the promotion of security, peace and stability in the region and the world.
The session was attended by the members of the official delegation accompanying HH the Emir and a number of South Africa’s ministers.
HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani  concluded his state visit to South Africa, the last leg of Africa tour, yesterday.
HH the Emir sent a cable to President of South Africa Jacob Zuma in which he expressed thanks and appreciation for the warm welcome and appreciation he and the accompanying delegation have received during the visit which discussed means of enhancing relations of friendship and co-operation between the two countries in various fields along with a number of issues of common concern.
HH the Emir expressed his deep appreciation and best wishes of best health and happiness for President Zuma and further development and prosperity for the people of South Africa.