Abuja — Nigeria and Burkina Faso have held an inaugural bilateral meeting with an agreement by representatives of both countries to boost ties in areas such as culture, economy, and science.

Acting Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Oyebola Kuku, in his opening address, indentified the absence of a bilateral commission between Nigeria and Burkina-Faso as the major cause of the slow pace of cooperation and negation of the fraternal ties between both nations.

Kuku expressed the need for delegates to the commission to seek for means by which both countries will be protected from the negative effects of global economic downturn.

He equally urged the delegates to revisit the air transport agreements for direct flights between both countries.

Head of the Burkina Faso delegation, Francoise Oubida, commended the efforts of President Umaru Yar'Adua of Nigeria and President Blaise Compaore of Burkina Faso towards enhancing the relationship between both nations which, according to him, led to the inaugural meeting.

He added that his country supports Nigeria's efforts towards the stability and establishment of peace on the African continent, adding that efforts should be made by other countries to consolidate Nigeria's peacekeeping efforts.

"Our experts should exchange visits to fashion out modalities for mutual development in the health, agriculture, water, infrastructure and economic sectors so we can work together to build the African continent."