South Africa and Sweden on Thursday agreed to strengthen bilateral ties and cooperation on economic and social development, the Presidency said.

President Jacob Zuma and Sweden’s Prime Minister Stefan Löfven met on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum meeting in Davos, Switzerland on Thursday morning.

“The two leaders discussed the warm and strong bilateral relations between the two countries which date back to the period of the struggle against apartheid when Sweden supported the oppressed in South Africa to gain freedom and democracy,” Zuma’s office said in a statement.

“President Zuma and Prime Minister Löfven discussed the need for further cooperation in the economic and social development areas, with special emphasis on education and skills development.”

The meeting also discussed the implementation of the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which was adopted by the 193-member UN last year.

“Prime Minister Löfven has invited President Zuma to join an informal group of world leaders from different regions to support the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at the highest political level.”