Minister Dlamini Zuma returns to South Africa following Four Nation Visit to Middle East and Asia

Tehran - South African Foreign Minister Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma concluded her official visit to Iran on Thursday, 16 December where she led a South African government and business delegation to the 8th session of the South Africa - Iran Joint Bilateral Commission.

The visit to Iran was part of a four-nation visit that included Indonesia, Kuwait and Oman as part of efforts by South Africa to consolidate strategic bilateral political relations and to expand the frontiers of trade, investment and tourism in the Middle East and Asia region.

The visit to Indonesia and Iran had an added dimension of consolidating preparations for the forthcoming Africa - Asia Summit in the context of the 50th anniversary of the 1955 Africa - Asia Solidarity Conference held in Bandung.

Strategic bilateral political relations between South Africa on the one hand and Iran, Oman, Kuwait and Indonesia on the other remain on a sound footing with the countries sharing common views on the need to focus their strategic resources towards pushing back the frontiers of poverty and underdevelopment; strengthening multilateralism and the reform of the United Nations system and global finance institutions; the creation of peace and stability in the African and Middle East regions with a particular focus on Iraq, Palestine and Israel; as well as the need to strengthen South-South co-operation.

In this regard, Minister Dlamini Zuma held political bilateral discussions with her Iranian, Omani, Kuwaiti and Indonesian counterparts to discuss strategic bilateral regional and global issues of mutual concern with a view to cementing ties of friendship between our peoples, countries and regions.

While economic relations between South Africa, Iran, Kuwait, Oman and Indonesia are steadily growing, Minister Dlamini Zuma's visit was aimed at giving impetus to expanding trade, investment and tourism between the four countries.

In this context, Minister Dlamini Zuma held discussions and addressed the Chambers of Commerce in the four countries. The dominant view emanating from this discourse is that great potential exists for trade, investment and tourism in South Africa, Oman, Kuwait, Indonesia and Iran for the private sectors in this country to explore. There was a general consensus that governments are doing everything in their power to create an enabling environment in which the private sector can prosper. In this regard, exchange visits between the South African Chamber of Commerce and their counterparts in the respective countries are planned for 2005. In addition, it was agreed that there will be exchange visits planned journalists to South Africa, Oman, Iran, Kuwait and Indonesia with the primary purpose of expanding the frontiers of knowledge of each other's countries to foster closer people-to-people contact and interaction.

The high esteem in which South Africa is held globally was attested to by the fact that Minister Dlamini Zuma was received by high ranking and key political principals in the countries visited including President Khatami of Iran; Iranian Head of National Security Council, Dr Rowhani; Iranian Head of the Expediency Council, Dr Sanjani; Omani Deputy Prime Minister; as well as the Prime Minister of Kuwait.

During her visit to Iran, Minister Dlamini Zuma witnessed the signing of the Health Co-opreation Agreement signed by South Africa's Minister of Health, Dr Manto Tshabalala Msimang and her Iranian counterpart which will see co-operation between the two countries including the dispatch of 106 Iranian doctors to 3 South African provinces.

Minister Dlamini Zuma's visit accordingly laid a successful basis for expanding the frontiers of trade, investment and tourism while cementing strategic bilateral political relations between South Africa, Oman, Kuwait, Indonesia and Iran.

Minister Dlamini Zuma's visit to Iran also provided an opportunity to discuss current developments within the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Both countries agreed to continue to work together in championing the cause of the developing world to access nuclear technology for peaceful purposes within the framework of the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

Minister Dlamini Zuma returned to South Africa on Thursday, 16 December 2004 ahead of a visit to Swaziland on 19-20 December 2004 where she is scheduled to sign a General Co-operation Agreement before hosting and chairing the Ministerial meeting of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security on Tuesday, 21 December 2004 at the Presidential Guesthouse in Pretoria.

Issued by Ronnie Mamoepa on 082 990 4853.

Department of Foreign Affairs
Private Bag X152
Pretoria
0001

17 December 2004