South Africa's top diplomat Naledi Pandor noted that it is crucial for South Africa and Ethiopia to strengthen their partnership in order to stay in the forefront of the African continent, according to a local media.
The minister also emphasized the contribution of the two countries to the formation of pan-Africanism and the African Union (AU).
"These countries played such an important role in giving life to the African Union Development Agency-NEPAD (AUDA-NEPAD) and in supporting the emergence of the African Union. So, we say Ethiopia and South Africa played a leading role in that regard," she told media.
African Union Development Agency-NEPAD (AUDA-NEPAD) is an agency, located in South Africa, which aims to boost the capacity of African Union Member States and to "coordinate and execute priority regional and continental projects to promote regional integration", as the website of the organization states.
Pandor reportedly noted that the meeting confirmed the existing ties between the countries as well as outlined new directions for cooperation.
"We affirmed the very strong cooperation that exists between South Africa and Ethiopia. But we also identified new areas of cooperation. We've agreed that we must play a bigger role in advancing the objectives of Agenda 2063," she stated.
The minister also clarified that "new areas of cooperation" include intensification of economic diplomacy, development of the relations in private sector as well as agriculture.
"As Africa we have a challenge of food security. And I think if we can cooperate successfully together to expand agricultural production, and agro-processing in our countries, we will address food security. We've also agreed to add economic diplomacy because we must grow the private sector and ensure that it helps us with job creation and with greater public revenue," the minister elaborated.
Agenda 2063 is an African plan of converting the continent into one of the world's great powers. The initiative aims at "inclusive and sustainable development" of Africa and serves as a "manifestation of the pan-African drive for unity, self-determination, freedom, progress and collective prosperity," as the AU's website states.
Russian President Vladimir Putin noted at during a plenary session on the second day of Russia-Africa Summit and Humanitarian Forum that the Africa's growing weight on the international arena needs to be recognized and should not be underestimated.
"I would also like to note that before our eyes the African continent is becoming a new center of power, its political and economic role is growing exponentially. And everyone will have to reckon with this objective reality," Putin stated.
The Second Russia–Africa Summit took place in St. Petersburg on July 27-28. Both Ethiopia and South Africa had visited Russia for the summit with high-ranking delegations.
The head of the Ethiopian delegation and their Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed along with the Russian leader discussed bilateral and multilateral issues, including security, economic cooperation, technology exchange and trade.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin also had bilateral talks, where the upcoming BRICS Summit, economic and education cooperation and the Ukraine crisis were covered.