Statement on the Official Launch of the South African-DRC Binational commission, Kinshasa, 30-31 August 2003

At the invitation of the President of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Joseph Kabila, President Thabo Mbeki accompanied by Ministers Dr Nkosazana Dlamini, Mandisi Mpahlwa, Pumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi, Sydney Mufamadi, Mosiua Lekota and Dr Manto Tshabalala - Msimang will visit Kinshasa for the official launch of the South Africa -DRC Binational Commission (JBC) on Monday and Tuesday 30 - 31 August 2004.

The South Africa- DRC Binational Commission which will be co-chaired by both Presidents Thabo Mbeki and Joseph Kabila will serve as mechanism for regulating political and economic relations between SA and the DRC.

President Thabo Mbeki laid the foundations of the Binational Commission during his historic State Visit State to DRC in January 2004, with the signing of a General Co-operation Agreement that laid the foundation for co-operation between SA and the DRC.

The official launch of the BNC takes place against the background of meetings held in Pretoria on 15-18 March this year between SA and DRC Ministers, which finalised the terms of reference of a number of co-operation agreements. The Ministers also agreed that these agreements would be submitted for signature on the occasion of the official launch of the South Africa - DRC Binational Commission.

Issued by Ronnie Mamoepa at 082 990 4853

Department of Foreign Affairs
P/Bag X152
Pretoria
0001

27 August 2004