Washington - The United States and South Africa on Wednesday signed a deal to boost diplomatic exchanges, a new sign of the importance the US administration accords Pretoria's role in the region.
The "strategic dialogue" set up by American Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and her South African counterpart Maite Nkoana-Mashabane seeks to strengthen co-operation between the two nations on a wide range of issues.
Among the areas the two sides will work on are health, education, food security, public security, commerce, investments, energy and nuclear non-proliferation, the State Department said.
"South Africa's leadership is critical to the prosperity and security of the South African people and to Africa and the world," Clinton said in signing the agreement.
South Africa, a member of the Group of 20 and the most influential nation in its region, is considered by Washington one of three key players in Africa, along with oil producers Nigeria and Angola.
The United States has already signed a similar agreement with Nigeria and is expected to seal a deal with Angola as well.
The first annual bilateral forum between the United States and South Africa will be held in Pretoria on 12-13 May, US diplomatic sources said. - AFP