SA and UK strengthen relations

SA and UK strengthen relations

South Africa and the United Kingdom (UK) have tied the nod by committing to strengthen their relations in various areas of cooperation, of which the just energy transition topped the agenda.

The newly elected Prime Minister of the UK Sir Kier Starmer and Leader of the Labour Party placed a call to South Africa’s president Cyril Ramaphosa on Sunday, 7 July 2024, where the duo expressed their mutual commitment to deepen the relations of their respective countries.

The two counties enjoy trade relations in goods and service which were worth £10.4 billion by the end of quarter four of 2023. Starmer told Ramaphosa that he is interested in working with South Africa closely as part of executing the strong mandate given to the Labour Party in the general election on Thursday, 4 July 2024.

In turn, President Cyril Ramaphosa congratulated Prime Minister Kier Starmer for his victory and affirmed him that the new South African government, a Government of National Unity (GNU) carries with it many objectives in its statement of intent that align with or are in agreement with both administrations.

According to the Presidency, the two leaders viewed Sunday’s discussion as a continuation of the deliberations in which they engaged in November 2022 when President Ramaphosa visited London on the first State Visit hosted by His Majesty King Charles III. Sir Keir Starmer was at that time the leader of the opposition Labour Party.

“President Ramaphosa described the bilateral relationship as a special bond and said South Africa wished to see greater alignment with the UK at the national and multilateral level, with South Africa’s Presidency of the G20 in 2025 providing one such opportunity.

President Ramaphosa foresees closer cooperation with UK in the political, social, people-to-people, diplomatic, trade and investment and climate change domains,” said Vincent Magwenya, Spokesperson to the President.

Magwenya said the Prime Minister agreed that the G20 would be a platform for advancing shared interests in climate change, economic growth and the eradication of inequality.

Journalist

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