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South African Foreign Affairs Minister, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini
Zuma concludes Co-Chairing of the 5th ITEC Session on a Positive Note, ahead of
Meetings with Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov and the Foreign Affairs Minister,
Sergey Lavrov, Moscow, Russia, 4 - 5 October 2005 Moscow: South African
Foreign Affairs Minister, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma has concluded co - chairing
the 5th session of the joint Intergovernmental Committee on Trade and Economic
Co-operation (ITEC) on a positive note. Minister Dlamini Zuma, who arrived in
Moscow, yesterday, 04 October 2005, co-chaired the session with the Russian Minister
of Natural Resources, Minister Yuri Petrovich Trutnev. In Moscow, Minister Dlamini
Zuma was accompanied by the Minister of Minerals and Energy, Mrs Lindiwe Hendricks,
senior government officials of various departments, a strong business delegation
and South African media representing an array of media houses. Bilateral
discussions were held between the two-Co-chairpersons of ITEC, whilst Minister
Dlamini Zuma also met with the Russian Prime Minister, Mr Mikhail Fradkov. On
her schedule, tomorrow, Thursday, 06 October,2005, Minister Dlamini Zuma will
meet her counterpart, the Foreign Affairs Minister, Mr Sergey Lavrov of the Russian
Federation. During the course of the ITEC meeting, the Russian and the
South African sides emphasized that that the Fifth session has further strengthened
mutually beneficial bilateral co-operation. Both sides agreed that the expansion
of their economic relationship should be prioritised and that there is a necessity
to determine ways of realising specific opportunities in the fields of trade and
economic cooperation. An intersessional meeting before the Sixth Session
of ITEC was agreed upon scheduled to take place in South Africa, during 2006.
Both co-chairpersons expressed their satisfaction with the development
of relations covered by the Joint Subcommittees within the ITEC. Fields
of work covered by the Subcommittees included amongst others: - Minerals
and Energy. In this regard, the parties expressed satisfaction, with the succesful
development of a joint project of prospecting, mining and processing of manganese
ore of Kalahari deposits. South African and Russian parties confirmed their support
and mutual interest in the further implementatin of the manganese project.
- Science
and Technology : In this regard, the parties noted with satisfaction, the signing
of a twinning Memorandum of Understanding ( MoU) between the Hartbeeshoek Radio
Astronomy Observatory (HartRAO) and the Puschino Radio Astronomy Observatory.
- The
signing of a Memorandum of Understanding ( MoU) between South Africa and the Joint
Institute for Nuclear Research ( JINR/ Dubna) for South Africa to become an associate
member of the JINR.
- Trade, Investment and Banking. In this regard, South
Africa undertook to lead a business delegation and hold a trade and investment
Fair in Russia in 2006 ;as a way of raising the profile of South Africa - Russia
business interactions.
- The main export commodities from Russia were identified
as fertilizers, ferrus metals ;machinery and equipment, whilst the main export
commodities from South Africa were citrus plants, fruit, cooking coal, artificial
graphite and cellulose.
- The parties also exchanged information on the
performance of their economies as well as investment climates. South Africa offered
to share information on its experience in the development of its fiscal policies,
restructuring and diversification of its economy and redistribution of equity
in the economy.
- The sides noted with satisfaction, the successful holding
of a Business Forum held in the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian
Federation with the participation of the representatives of business circles of
the two countries within the framework of the Fifth ITEC Session.
- The
parties consider the Russian - South African Business Council created by the Chamber
of Commerce and Industry of the two countries, as an important vehicle of the
interaction of the business circles and declare their support of its activities.
- Transport
- Signing of the Agreement on Co-operation in the Field of Maritime Transport
during this 5th ITEC Session.
- Water and Forestry Co-operation, including
measures to facilitate the sustainable use of water resources, international watercourses,
technical and scientific information exchange in the water and forestry sectors
and measures to facilitate sustainable forest management.
- Education:-
Following a visit of South Africa's Deputy Minister for Education, Mr Enver Surty,
to Russia in January 2005, a visit by the Russian Education Ministry and prominent
university rectors to South Africa is planned for 2005/2006.
- Health :
Both South Africa and Russia will continue to work on finalizing the Agreement
of Co-operation in the Field of Health and Medical Sciences. Exchange of information
on topical issues of healthcare and medical science will also continue.
Conclusion The
Co- Chairpersons congratulated the respective delegations and joint subcommittees
for their hard work and on achieving positive results during the Fifth Session
of the ITEC. Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, Minister of Foreign Affairs and
the ITEC Co-chair of the Republic of South Africa, invited Mr Yuri. P. Trutnev,
Minister of Natural Resources and the ITEC Co-chair of the Russian Federation
to visit the Republic of South Africa for the Sixth Session of the Joint Inter-Governmental
Committee on Trade and Economic Co-operation which is scheduled to be held in
Pretoria, South Africa, during 2006. Issued by Nomfanelo Kota on + 27 82
459 3787 South African Embassy in Moscow
Granatny Pereulok, no.1
Moscow
Russian
Federation 5th October 2005
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