Joint Statement on the occasion of the Visit of H. E. Ms. Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, Minister for International Relations and Cooperation of the Republic of South Africa, to Indonesia, Jakarta, 1 March 2014

At the invitation of the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, H. E. Dr. R. M. Marty M. Natalegawa, the Minister for International Relations and Cooperation of the Republic of South Africa, H. E. Ms. Maite Nkoana-Mashabane paid a visit to Indonesia from 28 February to 2 March 2014. During the visit, Minister Nkoana-Mashabane attended the Second Conference on Cooperation among East Asian Countries for Palestinian Development (CEAPAD II) hosted in Jakarta on 1 March 2014 in South Africa’s capacity as Co-Chair of the New Asian African Strategic Partnership (NAASP). After the conclusion of the CEAPAD II, the two Ministers held a bilateral meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia.

Encouraged by the strong historical ties between Indonesia and South Africa; recalling Indonesia’s support for the anti-apartheid struggle and the good relations between the two countries since the advent of democracy in South Africa in 1994 which coincides with the 20th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries, and taking into account the Joint Declaration on a Strategic Partnership for a Peaceful and Prosperous Future between the Republic of Indonesia and the Republic of South Africa signed by the Presidents of the two countries in Pretoria on 17 March 2008, the two Ministers agreed on the following:

1. That bilateral relations are cordial and conducted in a spirit of friendly cooperation as illustrated by the exchange of visits of dignitaries, government officials, business leaders and other stakeholders; that a solid bilateral institutional framework has been established through the Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation (JCBC), the Joint Trade Committee (JTC) and a number of bilateral agreements and memoranda of  understanding regarding a wide range of areas of cooperation including but not limited to the following: defense and security, agriculture, culture and science and technology.

2. The two Ministers underlined the importance of elevating bilateral relations between the two countries to a higher level so as to reflect the special relationship as encapsulated in the Joint Declaration on a Strategic Partnership for A Peaceful and Prosperous Future. In this regard, Minister Nkoana-Mashabane expressed her sincere appreciation to Minister Natalegawa for the proposed draft Plan of Action 2014-2018 as a blue print for the implementation of the Joint Declaration on a Strategic Partnership for a Peaceful and Prosperous Future. The two Ministers agreed to task their respective officials to finalise and conclude discussions on the Plan of Action with a view to sign it later during 2014 in South Africa.

3. The two Ministers underlined the importance of the existing bilateral mechanism of the Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation (JCBC) as an effective avenue to enhance and strengthen bilateral cooperation between the two countries. In this regard, both Ministers agreed to convene the 2nd JCBC in South Africa at the earliest and mutually convenient time this year.

4. On economic relations, the two Ministers noted that bilateral trade has consistently grown over the past five years.  It was therefore agreed that renewed efforts were needed to increase the volume of bilateral trade. In this respect, the two Ministers emphasised the need to step up joint efforts to identify and eliminate trade barriers and to promote direct trade by optimising the existing bilateral mechanism, namely the Joint Trade Committee.

5. Being the largest economies in their respective regions, and endowed with rich natural resources, the two Ministers underscored that Indonesia and South Africa have the capacity and potential to expand economic cooperation, especially investment cooperation. In this regard, the two Ministers encouraged the investment authorities as well as business communities of both countries to enhance investment in various sectors, especially in infrastructure, energy, strategic industries, manufacturing and services.

6. The two Ministers attached particular importance to technical cooperation among developing countries. The two sides expressed their readiness to promote technical cooperation in areas of their respective expertise and experience, including on education and human resources development, agriculture and animal husbandry, industry as well as small and medium enterprises.

7. The two Ministers agreed to promote people-to-people contact, cultural exchange, tourism as well as exchange of programs involving youth, academics, religious leaders, media, and civil society.

8. The two Ministers agreed to encourage competent authorities of both countries to fully implement the existing bilateral agreements and memoranda of understanding. The Ministers also encouraged the early conclusion of a number of pending agreements and memoranda of understanding, including on fishery cooperation, mineral and energy cooperation, visa exemptions for the holders of diplomatic and service passports as well as on technical arrangements for the implementation of the Bilateral Air Services Agreement between the two countries.

9. The two Ministers exchanged views on regional and international issues of common interest. In this regard, the two Ministers agreed to enhance coordination and cooperation between Indonesia and South Africa in the UN, WTO, UNFCCC, NAM, G20 and G77.

10. The two Ministers furthermore agreed to strengthen cooperation in the framework of the New Asian-African Strategic Partnership (NAASP) and the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA). As co-Chairs of NAASP, the two Ministers adopted the Report of the NAASP’s Co-Chairs Meeting and will circulate it to the NAASP participating countries. The Meeting also acknowledged the potential for cooperation and synergy between ASEAN and the African Union (AU) as well as between ASEAN and the Southern African Development Community (SADC).

11. The two Ministers expressed their satisfaction with the results of the bilateral meeting and were confident that the meeting provided renewed impetus for closer and mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries and peoples.

Done in Jakarta, on 1 March 2014, in English language.

M. MARTY M. NATALEGAWA...................................NKOMAITE NKOANA-MASHABANE
Minister for Foreign Affairs........................................Minister of International
....................................................................................Relations and Cooperation



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