South Africa and Turkey have signed an agreement on the establishment of the South Africa-Turkey Binational Commission, which will elevate relations between the two countries to a higher strategic level.

This follows the two-day working visit by Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe to Turkey. The purpose of the visit was to further strengthen bilateral political and economic relations between the two countries. 



The South Africa-Turkey Binational Commission will enhance cooperation between the two countries in the fields of politics, economics, trade, defence, security, agriculture, minerals, energy, education, tourism, sport and environment.

It will meet once every two years and it will be co-chaired by Motlanthe and the Prime Minister of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan.



The visit also focused on matters of defence and energy, said The Presidency.

With regards to defence, the countries agreed that the Defence Industry Co-operation Agreement would be signed in September, in South Africa.

South Africa and Turkey also have a mutual interest in renewable energy, energy efficiency and coal-to-liquid technology. According to the Presidency, a memorandum of understanding is at an advanced stage and is to be signed in the near future.



The Deputy President, who was accompanied by the Minister of Energy Dipuo Peters, the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans Lindiwe Sisulu and the Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Ebrahim Ebrahim, returned to South Africa on Friday.