South Africa and Senegal have signed cooperation agreements in agriculture as well as arts and culture on Tuesday as President Jacob Zuma’s state visit to the West African country commenced.

Speaking after the signing of the documents, President Jacob Zuma explained the importance of the cooperation between both countries.

“The signing of these two agreements demonstrates that both people –to-people relations, as well as agro-industrial partnership for development, are important to our relationship,” he said.

President Zuna also added that there was considerable scope for increased cooperation between South Africa and Senegal in trade and economic development, energy and mining benefits, among other areas.

“We have also discussed the need to strengthen the African Union to ensure that it plays its role effectively to promote socio-economic development and peace and stability in the continent,” Zuma added after his meeting with his Senegalese counterpart, Macky Sall.

President Sall is the chairperson of NEPAD’s Heads of State and Government Orientation Committee, which is in line with Zuma’s role as chairperson of the African Union’s Presidential Infrastructure Championing Initiative.