Egypt's Charge d'affaires in South Africa Munzir Selim said that preparations started a month ago for an Egyptian-South African joint committee that should convene in Egypt in early 2017.

In statements to MENA, Selim added that bilateral ties between Egypt and South Africa witnessed tangible progress particularly in 2014, Selim said, noting that many agreements have been signed over the past period between the ministries of agriculture in the two countries.

Meanwhile, Selim said a meeting held last September between Egypt's President Abdel Fattah El Sisi and his South African counterpart Jacob Zuma had greatly contributed to to boosting relations between the two countries.

After the meeting, that had been held on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) meetings, Zuma had hailed Sisi's role in combating terrorism and achieving stability in Egypt, he added.

Also, the Egyptian diplomat pointed out to Zuma's meeting with Egypt's Parliament speaker Ali Abdel Aal last May as part of his participation in the commencement of a new term of the Pan-African Parliament.

The meeting, Selim said, touched on boosting bilateral ties, especially in the parliamentary sphere.

Source: MENA