(Xinhua) -- Zambia and South Africa signed six Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) in Lusaka on Tuesday in the areas of health, agriculture, energy, mining, commerce and foreign affairs, during South African President Jacob Zuma's visit to the country, according to the report of Zambian News and Information Service (ZANIS).

Zuma, who had private bilateral talks with Zambian President Rupiah Banda on Tuesday in the State House of Zambia, told media that Zambia has become his country's top trading partner on the African continent.

"We are generally happy with the direction that our trade relations are taking. In 2008, Zambia became our number one trading partner on the continent," Zuma said.

He said South Africa's major exports to Zambia include mineral oils and fuels, autos and components, chemicals, steel and capital equipment.

Zuma, who arrived in Zambia on Monday in the company of eight ministers and a business delegation comprising representatives from 60 companies, said Zambia and South Africa need to cooperate in order to minimize the impact of the global economic recession.

He said the representatives of 60 companies that he has come with were interested in the energy, petroleum, information communication and technology (ICT), infrastructure, financial services, healthcare, mining and agro-processing, according to ZANIS.

"We should also work together to strengthen people-to-people contact through cultural, scientific and educational exchange programmes as well as encouraging two-way tourism," he said.

And Zuma has praised the Zambian government for promoting the growth of the agricultural sector in the country.

"With regard to agriculture, we congratulate Zambia on the growth of this sector, which has shown improvements despite heavy rains in 2008. This country managed to record a food surplus in the past three years. Thanks to the government's seed and fertilizer programme," he said.

Speaking at the same occasion, Zambian President Banda expressed optimism that Zambia and South Africa would enhance their economic cooperation and growth through the memorandums of understanding (MoUs), which the two countries signed.

He said the MoUs between the two countries must be implemented accordingly for the benefit of the people in the two countries. Banda said the two countries have a lot of work to do in implementing the MoUs successfully and urged ministers in concerned ministries to work hard and ensure the commitments made succeeded, according to ZANIS.