President Thabo Mbeki to depart for Africa-South America Summit

Pretoria - South African President Thabo Mbeki will on Wednesday 29 November 2006 depart for Abuja, Nigeria where he will attend the AU Peace and Security Council and the Inaugural session of the Africa - South America Summits scheduled for 29 - 30 November 2006 respectively.

President Mbeki will be supported by Deputy Foreign Minister Aziz Pahad who today Tuesday 28 November 2006 led a senior government delegation to the Ministerial session of the Africa-South America Summit.

The AU Peace and Security Council Summit will discuss the situation in Darfur with particular reference to the expiration of the mandate of the African Mission in Sudan (AMIS) on 31 December 2006 and the deployment of a hybrid African Union - United Nations force.

Africa - South America Summit
The Africa - South America 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.

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.

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
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