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President Thabo Mbeki departs for London, UK for Bilateral Talks
with Prime Minister Tony Blair Tshwane- President Thabo Mbeki departs South
Africa today, Monday 22 May 2006 for London, United Kingdom ahead of his political
and economic bilateral discussions with his British counterpart Prime Minister
Tony Blair scheduled for Tuesday-Wednesday 23-24 May 2006. Meanwhile, South
African Foreign Minister Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma flew into London on Monday
22 May ahead of the SA-UK Bilateral Forum of both South African and British Ministers,
scheduled Tuesday-Wednesday 23-24 May and to be co-chaired by Minister Dlamini
Zuma and her British counterpart Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett. The
high-level South African visit to London comes within the context of South Africa's
stated commitment to promoting North-South Dialogue whilst advancing the African
agenda and ensuring a faster and shared economic growth in South Africa. In
this context, President Mbeki and Prime Minister Blair will discuss among other
issues, the consolidation of bilateral political and economic relations between
the two countries; conflict resolution in Africa; WTO's Doha Development round;
UN reform and the Middle East situation including Iran. President Mbeki
will also during the visit have an opportunity to interact with British Captains
of Industry as well as the African Diplomatic Corps based in London. The
SA-UK Bilateral Forum of Minister Dlamini Zuma and Foreign Secretary Margaret
Beckett on the other hand, convened under the theme: "The UK and SA- Building
Together on the 2005 Year of Africa" will focus on strengthening bilateral
economic relations; achievements of the Millenium Development goals whilst ensuring
the implementation of the commitments made in the report of the Commission for
Africa at Gleneagles in 2005. A number of South African government departments
are expected to attend the Forum namely Foreign Affairs; Arts and Culture; Defence;
Education; Environmental Affairs; Home Affairs; Science and Technology as well
as Trade and Industry. Issued by Ronnie Mamoepa at 082-990-4853 Department
of Foreign Affairs
P/Bag X152
Pretoria
0001 22 May 2006.
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