South Africa President Jacob Zuma isscheduled to hold bilateral discussions with Angola's President Jose EduardoDos Santos Wednesday.
This is Zuma's first state visit to oil-rich Angola since his election as president.
South Africanofficials say the visit is aimed at strengthening bilateral and economic ties with Angola.
But political analystssay the trip is Pretoria's attempt to jumpstart apparent frosty diplomaticrelations between South Africa and Angola.
Somadoda Fikeni, a politicalanalyst told VOA that the new South Africanadministration aims to improve relations with its international partners.
"Iwould say that there is an attempt by the South African new administration toimprove relations with the countries where it seems they were chilly before.And not only that there is a conscious attempt to mend fences whether with theU.S where the relationship was frosty or with Angola," Fikeni said.
Hesaid both Angola and South Africa can benefit from improved relations.
"Angolahas massive natural resources, which remain less exploited. And now with SouthAfrican technology, there is a possibility that they could easily manage toexploit these resources nearby," he said.
Membersof President Zuma's delegation include Ministerof International Relations Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, Home Affairs Minister NkosazanaDlamini-Zuma, Minister of Human Settlements Tokyo Sexwale, and Minister ofPublic Enterprises Barbara Hogan as well as South African businessmen.
Fikenisaid the makeup of President Zuma's delegation shows Pretoria's desire tostrengthen bilateral ties with Luanda.
"Itsignifies that the economy and trade business is at the very core of it andalso closer interaction between the countries and a freer movement between thecountries business and people. So, that in itself I think is the main focus,"Fikeni said.
Hesaid former President Thabo Mbeki's administration didn't foster closer tieswith Angola.
"Thereare a number of reasons, which are presented as possible explanations and oneof those is the fact that when you talk of the military wing of the ANC (rulingAfrican National Congress), it was closer to Angola together with the SouthAfrican Communist Party, but the political wing was not as close. So, ThaboMbeki was part of that political wing of the ANC. Instead, he didn't have asgood a relationship as was the case with Zuma who was closer to the military,"he said.
Fikenisaid Angola apparently feels unappreciated after supporting the ANC in itsliberation struggle against apartheid.
"Definitelythere is that element and quite pointedly the ANC during its Polokwaneconference did point out that it's going to renew relationship with its formerliberation movement partners. And that in itself, MPLA (Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola) of Angola was singled out as one of those so here you dohave a conscious effort to re-establish those relationships," Fikeni said.
Meanwhile, accordingto South African officials, President Zuma is also expected to ask Angola toplay a greater part in Pretoria's peacekeeping efforts across Africa.