TUNIS, September 9, 2008 (AFP) - South Africa's foreign minister on Tuesday held talks in Tunisia, where she sought to build on cooperation that has seen her country recruit some 250 Tunisian medics, a news agency reported.

Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma met President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali during the visit and held talks with her Tunisian counterpart Abdelawaheb Abdallah, Tunisia's TAP agency reported.

She also held discussions with Health Minister Mondher Zenaidi.

Dlamini-Zuma saluted the 'excellent work' of Tunisian doctors in South Africa and said she hoped for an extension of such cooperation to other sectors, according to TAP.

South Africa has recruited some 250 pediatricians, anaesthesiologists, obstetricians and gynaecologists based on a 2004 agreement with Tunisia.

In addition, ophthalmological surgeons from Tunisia occasionally travel to the country.

South Africa, the continent's economic powerhouse, has faced a shortage of doctors.

Dlamini-Zuma also discussed economic, touristic, agricultural and defence cooperation between the two countries during the visit. She arrived on Monday and was to leave Tunis later Tuesday.