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President Mbeki to attend Africa-South America Summit
Pretoria - South African President Thabo Mbeki, supported by Deputy Foreign Minister
Aziz Pahad, will attend the inaugural Africa - South America Summit in Abuja,
Nigeria on Thursday 30 November 2006.
President Mbeki will participate
in this Summit within the context of South Africa's commitment to strengthen and
consolidate South-South co-operation.
Accordingly, the Summit provides
a good opportunity for both continents to reach a clear understanding of areas
of common interest and prospects for co-operation and enhanced collaboration to
foster a stronger strategic partnership on a South-South axis that would provide
the context for consolidating and invigorating relations.
The decision
to convene this Summit was adopted at the African Union Summit held in Khartoum,
Sudan in January 2006 on the Africa-Diaspora process and reiterated at the Summit
in Banjul, the Gambia in July 2006.
Indeed there are historic links between
these two continents. Both have endured the system of colonialism which was characterised
by exploitation, slavery and abuse. South America should be commended for playing
a superlative role waged by African peoples for political independence, human
dignity and economic emancipation.
Issues on the agenda for deliberations
and exploration of co-operation opportunities at the Summit are expected to include,
among others: - Peace and security;
- Democracy, governance, human
rights and other political issues;
- Agriculture and agribusiness, water
resources and the environment;
- Trade and investment between both continents
including market access, investment projects and financial resources;
- The
fight against poverty and underdevelopment;
- Infrastructure development;
- Energy
and social materials;
- Social and cultural co-operation, tourism and sports;
- Health
and education;
- Science, technology and ICT; and
- Co-operation in
multilateral fora.
The Summit will be preceded by a meeting of senior
officials and ministerial session scheduled from Sunday-Monday 26-27 November
and Tuesday 28 November 2006 respectively.
President Mbeki is expected
to return to South Africa on Friday 1 December 2006.
Issued by Ronnie
Mamoepa on 082 990 4853
Department of Foreign Affairs
Private Bag
X152
Pretoria
0001
22 November 2006
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