Africa/South America leaders resolve to deepen co-operation

From Kwaku Osei Bonsu, GNA Special Correspondent, Abuja

Abuja, Dec. 1, GNA - Leaders from Africa and South America have resolved to step up economic co-operation and political consultation at all levels to fully exploit the immense opportunities that abound in the two continents.

They would, through collective determination backed by political will, explore and exploit, in particular, opportunities for co-operation and collaboration in agriculture, trade and investment, energy, technology, water resources and tourism. These were part of a resolution adopted at the first-ever Africa/South America Heads of State and Government summit held in the Nigeria capital, Abuja.

President John Agyekum Kufuor was among the leaders who attended the summit that brought together 47 African countries and 11 from South America to discuss and find a common ground to forge a united front to achieve rapid socio-economic development among their countries. They further committed themselves to deepening and strengthening the historical and cultural links existing among their peoples.

To this end, the leaders pledged to immediately activate and implement all bilateral agreements between countries in the two regions, particularly in the areas of trade, air services and agriculture. They also agreed to establish an Africa/South America Co-operative Forum to meet every two years alternately in the two regions where strategies and measures would be adopted to translate the vision of the Forum into concrete economic, political and social benefits for their peoples.

Nana Addo Dankwah Akufo-Addo, Ghana's Foreign Minister, described the summit as historic and said it marked the beginning of the building of a permanent bridge of understanding and co-operation between Africa and South America.

He said development co-operation and trade between the two regions would undoubtedly be to their mutual advantage in the fast world of globalisation.

Making a specific reference to Ghana and Brazil relations, for example, Nana Akufo-Addo cited bio-diversity as one area Ghana could gain as the Brazilians have the expertise.