Nigeria is seeking South Africa's support for its bid to attain full membership in the G20, BRICS and the BRICS New Development Bank as well as for leadership roles in G20 thematic discussions under South Africa's presidency of the bloc, a Nigerian media reported, citing Nigeria's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu who spoke at the ministerial session of the 11th Nigeria-South Africa Bi-National Commission (BNC) in Cape Town.
"We will count on Nigeria’s wise counsel as we assume this major responsibility," South Africa’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Roland Lamola said, giving a response to Nigeria's request.
The ministerial meeting of the BNC laid the groundwork for a presidential session held on Tuesday, where further agreements and initiatives to strengthen the strategic partnership between the two nations in various fields of cooperation will be unveiled, the media report added.
"Key areas under discussion [at the BNC] include trade and investment, political consultations, consular and migration matters, defense and security cooperation, and collaboration in banking, energy, manufacturing, and the social sector," Odumegwu-Ojukwu pointed out on her social media account.