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President Thabo Mbeki to depart Portugal for Chile to attend
Inauguration of Chilean President Dr Michelle Bachelet Lisbon - South African
President Thabo Mbeki accompanied by Mrs. Zanele Mbeki will depart Portugal later
today, Thursday 9 March 2006 for Chile where he will lead a South African government
delegation to the inauguration of Chile's first female President Dr Michelle Bachelet
scheduled for Saturday 11 March 2006 in Santiago, Chile. President Thabo
Mbeki's participation in the inauguration of President-designate Michelle Bachelet
comes within South Africa's priority of strengthening and consolidating relations
with countries of the North with a view to ensuring a faster and shared economic
growth while consolidating Africa's political and economic agenda. In this
regard, Chile is expected to achieve all the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)
by 2015. According to the Human Development Index 2005, Chile is "a country
that has converted high growth into rapid human development." In addition,
Chile should eradicate extreme poverty, which is 4,7%, by 2007. The poverty rate
is down to 18,8%. President Thabo Mbeki in January 2006 congratulated President
Bachelet on her election as the president-designate of Chile saying, "Your
election will without doubt strengthen Chile's progressive example for the global
community, especially on issues of democracy, gender and women's rights, poverty
alleviation and support for a rules-based and more equitable multilateral system." "The
principled stance Chile has taken thus far in the ongoing attempts to restructure
global governance in order to respond more effectively to the challenges of the
21st Century, is also of prime importance to Africa and indeed the world at large,
and we look forward to continuing our co-operation with you and your administration
in that sphere." While in Chile, President Mbeki is also expected
to engage in bilateral discussions with other key players in the region. Issued
by Ronnie Mamoepa on 082 990 4853 Department of Foreign Affairs
Private
Bag X152
Tshwane
0001 9 March 2006
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