Benin's election to the United Nations Security Council last week, could lead to African views being heard louder at the United Nations (UN) decision-making institutions.

"We hope that our views as Africans would be heard right through the whole world and the highest organs of the world body.

"(We) would be able to influence...and turn back world opinion towards the challenges that Africa faces currently," affirmed Acting Foreign Affairs Minister Zola Skweyiya after signing a cooperation agreement with Benin Foreign Affairs Minister Rogatien Biaou at the Union Buildings, in Pretoria today.

Minister Skweyiya's remarks flow from Benin's election to the influential UN Security Council, last week, a 191-nation body which governs global events and specific multilateral issues.

The West African country joined another African state, Angola, which was elected last September to sit on the council for the next two years with, amongst others, the five veto-wielding permanent members comprising the United States, Russia, China, Britain and France.

The two ministers discussed wide-ranging issues including United Nations reforms, the operationalisation of the African Union, conflict resolutions in Liberia and Cote d' Ivoire during which the visiting minister made the assurance to his host on his country's role within the New York based body.

The two countries have committed themselves to exchanging views on numerous issues as well as promoting cooperation and good relations in the spirit of "brotherhood and friendship."

South Africa and Benin also further strengthened their bilateral relations, which the two governments believe would expand economic cooperation.

South Africa exports to Benin, which has a population of seven million, mainly metal, prepared foodstuffs, chemical products, machinery and electrical equipment amounting to R74 million.

Imports from Benin consist primarily of vegetables amounting to about R18 million. - BuaNews