President Mbeki to Depart for Germany

Cape Town - South African President Thabo Mbeki will today Wednesday 6 June 2007 depart for Heiligendamm, Germany ahead of the G-8 + 5 Outreach and African Outreach sessions of the G8 Summit scheduled on Friday 8 June 2007.

President Mbeki, supported by Ministers Dlamini Zuma and Mandisi Mpahlwa, will participate in the G-8 Outreach sessions within the context of South Africa's priority to strengthen relations with to the G-8 with a view to consolidation of the African developmental agenda.

The 2007 G-8 Heiligendamm Summit will be held under the banner: "Growth and Responsibility, with a focus on key global challenges: the world economy and Africa's economic, political and social development."

President Mbeki will also participate in the G-8 + leaders of the South (India, Brazil, South Africa, China and Mexico) with a view to advancing the developmental agenda of the South.

President Mbeki has said that, at the Heiligendamm Summit, as was agreed to at the 2006 St Petersburg Summit, the G-8 and its development partners must assess the movement in terms of the implementation of the set of agreements reached between the G-8 and the African continent and how to increase and expedite the implementation of the 2005 Gleneagles Commitments.

President Mbeki has also expressed confidence that the matter of climate change will be given renewed impetus and support at the 2007 Summit.

Issued by Ronnie Mamoepa on 082 990 4853

Department of Foreign Affairs
Private Bag X152
Pretoria
0001

6 June 2007