PARIS, France.- Emmanuel Macron, President of France, spoke on the phone with the new head of State of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa, who expressed the desire to expand bilateral relations, the the Élysée Palace said.

According to an official statement, Macron talked this Tuesday with Ramaphosa to congratulate him, after his inauguration on February 15.

The French President expressed his wish that the African nation be a
priority partner for France, in the context of a renewal of the links
between Paris and that continent.

Both sides agreed to work to reinforce the bilateral relationship and to a common commitment in the fight against climate change, the text added.

After Jacob Zuma’s resignation, Ramaphosa became the fifth President of Democratic South Africa last week.