SAfrican president eyes high-tech contracts with Russia

PRETORIA, July 30 (Itar-Tass) -- South African President Jacob Zuma
plans to sign high-tech contracts during his visit to Russia on August 4-6.
"An important topic which I would like to discuss in Russia is
cooperation in the spheres where our country possesses rich experience and
advanced technologies. I hope contracts will be concluded during the visit
in the sphere of science, energy, and mineral wealth mining," he said in
an interview with Itar-Tass and Russia TV channel on Thursday.
"South Africa and Russia have to make bilateral cooperation more
concrete and raise it to a new level," he added.
"In contrast to many European countries Russia has never made any
colonial gains. Besides history, our countries are linked by rich reserves
of mineral wealth. We work to develop economic cooperation with Russia. I
believe Russia will use my visit as South Africa is a gate to Africa and
good relations with us can promote successful activities on the continent
in general," the president said.
Zuma, who is meet President Dmitry Medvedev and Prime Minister
Vladimir Putin in Sochi, said "I am sure my visit to Russia will
strengthen bilateral relations."