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President Mbeki, Kofi Annan and President General Susilo Bambang
Yudhoyono to Address largest gathering of Leaders of the South Jakarta -
South African President Thabo Mbeki, Indonesian President General Susilo Bambang
Yudhoyono and United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan are expected to open
the largest gathering of leaders from the South in the Asia-Africa Summit to be
held in Jakarta, Indonesia from Friday - Saturday, 22-23 April 2005. The
Asia-Africa Summit, co-hosted by South Africa and Indonesia, is convened under
the theme, "Reinvigorating the Bandung Spirit: Towards a New Asian-African
Strategic Partnership." President Thabo Mbeki is accompanied to the
Summit by Mrs Zanele Mbeki, Foreign Minister Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, Deputy
Foreign Minister Aziz Pahad and South Africa's Ambassador to Indonesia Mandla
Memela. The Summit will be briefed by United Nations Secretary General Kofi
Annan on the reform of the United Nations system including the United Nations
Security Council, the United Nations General Assembly and ECOSOC. The Summit
will also receive recommendations from the Ministerial segment co-chaired by Indonesian
Foreign Minister Dr Noer Hassan Wirajuda and South African Foreign Minister Dr
Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma on: - The new Asian-African Strategic Partnership;
- Asia-Africa co-operation on disaster reduction;
- The new Asian-African
Partnership Plan of Action; and
- The agenda and programme of activities
of the Asian-African Strategic Partnership.
The Summit provides leaders
of the South with an excellent opportunity to help define the global agenda in
respect of meeting the targets of the Millennium Development Goals, World Trade
Organisation negotiations, and the reform of the United Nations. In addition,
President Thabo Mbeki is expected to chair the Heads of State and Government interactive
session on the development of a new Asian-African Strategic Partnership. Earlier
in the week, President Mbeki concluded bilateral political and economic discussions
with President General Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono during his State Visit to Indonesia
and will conclude a State Visit to Singapore later today. Issued by Ronnie
Mamoepa on 082 990 4853. Department of Foreign Affairs
Private Bag
X152
Pretoria
0001 21 April 2005
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