PRETORIA, Oct. 3 (Xinhua) -- President Jacob Zuma of South Africa met here Tuesday with his Zimbabwean counterpart, Robert Mugabe, to discuss stronger ties between the two neighbors.
"It is often said one can choose his or her friends, but he or she cannot choose one's neighbors. Let me assure you that had we had a say in the choice of neighbor, we would have chosen you," Mugabe told Zuma at the Bi-National Commission in Pretoria.
"We are one family because of geography, history, the revolutionary struggle we fought side by side, and of course because of culture, blood totems and marriage," Mugabe said.
"We hope that this phenomenon will continue to bind us forever," he said. "I'm pleased that we have chosen the path of cooperation, consultation, dialogue, engagement and joint action in order to secure our common future. We meet today in common spirit."
Mugabe called for heightened efforts to promote cross-border trade and investment.
Zuma, for his part, said the annual gathering was critical in oiling the relations between Pretoria and Harare.
"Our historical, fraternal and cultural bonds demand that we meet on regular basis to strengthen and consolidate our bilateral cooperation and partnership," Zuma said.
"We note with satisfaction the ever-growing cooperation between our two countries as evidenced by the existing 40 agreements and memoranda of understanding," he said.
The agreements cover a wide range of areas, Zuma said, "including double taxation, justice, defence, transport, water, science and technology, health, migration, labour, economic and trade cooperation, and tourism."
South Africa absorbed 77.8 percent of Zimbabwe's major exports during the first quarter of the year, official figures have revealed. Zimbabwe's major exports to South Africa were nickel, platinum group of metals, and gold.
According to figures from the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, South Africa maintained its status as Zimbabwe's major trading partner with 35.8 percent of the Zimbabwe's imports coming from its southern neighbor.
Mugabe also wished the ruling African National Congress (ANC) well as it heads to its elective conference in December.
"We wish ANC every success at the congress, so that it can continue into the future renewed and strengthened," he said.
