Europe

Hollande: UK exit from EU won't affect EU-South Africa trade

Associated Press
Published | Updated

France's President Francois Hollande, left, shakes hands with South African President Jacob Zuma during a state visit, at the Elysee Palace, in Paris, Monday, July 11, 2016. Zuma is on two days official state visit to France. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus) (The Associated Press)

French President Francois Hollande, right, gives an audio recording of Nelson Mandela to South Africa's President Jacob Zuma before their press conference at the Elysee Palace in Paris, Monday, July 11, 2016. (Jeremy Lempin, Pool via AP) (The Associated Press)

French President Francois Hollande, right, meets with South African President Jacob Zuma at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, July 11, 2016. (Philippe Wojazer/Pool via AP) (The Associated Press)

French President Francois Hollande has assured his visiting South African counterpart Jacob Zuma that the British vote to leave the European Union won't affect economic relations between the EU and his country.

Speaking at a joint press conference at the Elysee, Hollande said Monday that a British exit from the EU, or Brexit, "will have no impact" on the relations between the bloc and South Africa.

Hollande said that "on the contrary, we are going to strengthen our commercial relations" with South Africa.

He said the former British colony is a "key partner" to the EU.

Zuma, on a state visit to France, said that he and Hollande have committed to "strengthening cooperation on regional and global peace and security as well as global governance issues."