Bilateral talks between Russia and South Africa focusing on economic and trade relations between the two countries entered the second day at the Presidential Guesthouse in Pretoria this morning.

Foreign affairs minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma and Russian deputy Prime Minister Valentina Matviyenko are jointly chairing the talks that seek to further cement trade and diplomatic relationships between the two nations.

The four-day talks centre 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 developed and developing nations discussing ways and means of joint co-operation between one of the world's most powerful nations and Africa's emerging powerhouse.

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

The meeting comes a few days after South Africa held a bi-national commission with its Zimbabwean counterpart last week in Pretoria, where the two neighbours pledged to work together on wide ranging issues.

Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to visit the country next year, where he will meet President Thabo Mbeki. - BuaNews