South African President Jacob Zuma invited Russian President Vladimir Putin to visit South Africa in 2016, according to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of South Africa Maite Nkoana-Mashabane.

South African diplomat  has a visit to Moscowon Thursday, where she is holding talks with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov.

At the beginning of the meeting with Lavrov Maite Nkoana-Mashabane expressed condolences on behalf of the President Jacob Zuma upon a plane crash in the Sinai. ‘If there is something that South Africa can do in this situation, please contact us,’ the Minister said.

Lavrov thanked the South African counterpart for the proposed assistance. The Russian minister also said that during the talks in Moscow they will discuss foreign policy topics. According to him, the relations between Russia and South Africa “are steadily developing”.

Sergei Lavrov reminded that the presidents of Russia and South Africa met twice in 2015. ‘It is important to compare notes on all the issues which we have identified as a priority,’ the head of the Russian Foreign Ministry said.