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Minister Dlamini Zuma concludes Bilateral
Discussions with Indonesian Foreign Minister
Jakarta - South African Foreign Minister Dr Nkosazana
Dlamini Zuma today - Friday, 10 December 2004 - concluded
bilateral political and economic discussions with her
Indonesian counterpart, Foreign Minister Dr Hassan Wirajuda
in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Minister Dlamini Zuma is currently in the Middle East
and Asia region to expand the frontiers of trade, investment
and tourism. In this regard, Minister Dlamini Zuma visit
Oman, Kuwait, and is currently in Indonesia before the
final leg of her visit to Iran where she will lead a
South African government delegation to the joint South
Africa - Iran bilateral commission meeting.
The bilateral discussions between both Ministers reviewed
the state of political bilateral relations between South
Africa and Indonesia and expressed satisfaction at the
quality of relations between the two countries which
has also seen co-operation at the level of the Non-Aligned
Movement (NAM) and Asian-African Sub-Regional Organisations
Conference (AASROC).
The two ministers expressed the need for the excellent
political bilateral relationship to be extended to the
areas of trade, investment and tourism with a view to
consolidating existing bilateral relations.
Two way trade between South Africa and Indonesia amounts
to over R3 billion. Minister Dlamini Zuma's visit therefore,
must be seen within the context of the need to expand
trade relations between South Africa and Indonesia.
Ministers Dlamini Zuma and Wirajuda also reviewed and
were satisfied with the state of preparedness for the
planned Asia-Africa Summit scheduled for April 2005
to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the 1955 Bandung
Conference which laid the foundation for Asia-Africa
Solidarity in the struggle against colonialism and apartheid.
The Asia-Africa Summit, which will be co-chaired by
President Thabo Mbeki and Indonesian President Susilo
Bambang Yudhoyono, is expected to be attended by about
105 invited African and Asian Heads of State and Government,
eminent persons, business leaders, representatives of
the African Union and Asian sub-regional organisations,
the United Nations, women, youth and academia.
Minister Dlamini Zuma will depart from Indonesia for
Iran on Sunday, 12 December 2004.
Issued by Ronnie Mamoepa on 082 990 4853.
South African Embassy
Indonesia
10 December 2004
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