Government and private sector delegations from Russia and South Africa are set to wrap up their bilateral talks on trade relations, investment and mutual co-operation in Pretoria tomorrow.

President Thabo Mbeki and his deputy Jacob Zuma will separately meet with the visiting Russian deputy Prime Minister Valentina Matviyenko at the Union Buildings in Pretoria today, before the conclusion of the joint discussions between the two nations at the Presidential guesthouse, tomorrow.

Foreign affairs minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma and deputy Prime Minister Matviyenko jointly chaired the second sittings that aimed to further cement the trade and diplomatic relationship between Pretoria and Moscow.

The four-day talks center around trade, minerals, energy, health, education, water and forestry as well as science and culture.

The meeting, which began yesterday, is being attended by senior government officials from the two nations, and is discussing ways of joint co-operation between one of the world’s most powerful nations and Africa’s emerging powerhouse.

It is expected the two delegations will adopt a working agreement tomorrow that will tie them down to fostering and implementing the Tshwane resolutions, likely to boost investment and trade between the two countries.

Meanwhile, foreign affairs sources have hinted that Russian President Vladimir Putin is likely to visit the country next year. – BuaNews