Pretoria - President Jacob Zuma has accepted diplomatic credentials from six new ambassadors and high commissioners during a ceremony at the Presidential Guest House on Tuesday.
Zuma welcomed the ambassadors and high commissioners from Paraguay, Tanzania, Indonesia, Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, Republic of the Philippines and Islamic Republic of Mauritania.
Conveying his message of support, Zuma told the ambassadors and high commissioners that they were "lucky" to have arrived in South Africa when the country was due to host the 2010 FIFA World Cup in a few days time.
"You arrived at the right time indeed and I am looking forward to a fruitful relationship between our countries," Zuma said addressing Mo Hannani of the Mauritania. Mauritania said his country shared similar vision to that of South Africa and that of freeing its citizens from the shackles of poverty.
"The relations of friendship and cooperation between our two countries are excellent even if their level is still under the great potential that both countries can offer," Hannani said.
He said the message from his Prime Minister Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz was to further strengthen and diversify economic and social relations between Mauritania and South Africa.
ML De Leon of The Philippines said ties between South Africa and the Philippines have deepened and expanded since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1993 and the opening of the country's embassy in Pretoria in 1994.
Philippines had since had four ambassadors to South Africa. "I take this opportunity to thank the government of South Africa for the hospitality to me and my countrymen who have considered this country their second home," said De Leon.
