Deputy President Motlanthe to undertake Working Visit to the Republic of Guinea-Bissau

Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe will undertake an official visit to the Republic of Guinea-Bissau from 30-31 August 2011. Deputy President Motlanthe’s visit comes at the invitation of the Bissauan Prime Minister, Mr Carlos Gomes Júnior.

Deputy President Motlanthe will use the visit to convey messages of appreciation to the Bissauans for their commitment in supporting the struggle against apartheid under the leadership of world-renowned Amilcar Cabral.

The common struggle between the two countries engendered a deep spirit of cooperation that gradually deepened through an expansion of relations in several important sectors.

 The visit will see the two countries reaffirming their commitment to implement a bilateral programme of cooperation agreed under the Joint Bilateral Commission (JBC) that was initiated in August 2008.

Accordingly, progress made in the defence and security cooperation sector will be reviewed; and of special importance and focus will be the bilateral evaluation of strategies implemented to combat organised and transnational crime, especially drug trafficking.

Deputy President Motlanthe will also use the visit to reiterateSouth Africa’s support for on-going political and military reforms of the Government of President Sanhá.

Deputy President Motlanthe and his counterpart will also deliberate on various bilateral technical cooperation initiatives that will particularly concentrate on health and education sectors, where programmes of reinforcing human resource development, capacity building and delivery of health and education services will be of fundamental importance.

This visit will also give the two leaders an opportunity to evaluate and assess progress made towards the signing of Trade and Investment Promotion and Protection Agreements, as well as the Memorandum of Understanding on Economic and Technical Cooperation.

These agreements are of particular importance in view of increasing cooperation and investment in the petroleum and energy sectors by Angola and China. The agreements will encourage increased South African investment in bauxite and phosphate mining, transport, telecommunications, agriculture, fisheries and tourism sectors.

Furthermore, the visit will reaffirm South Africa’s commitment to support African countries with institutional reforms, capacity-building and service delivery.

For further information please contact Mr. Clayson Monyela spokesperson for DIRCO on 082 884 5974

ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND COOPERATION

OR Tambo Building
460 Soutpansberg Road
Rietondale
Pretoria
www.dirco.gov.za

25 August 2011