President Jacob Zuma is in Venezuela for the 2nd Africa South – America Summit, 26 -27 September 2009

Venezuela - President Jacob Zuma, supported by International Relations and Cooperation Minister Maite Nkoana Mashabane, Minister in the Presidency, Collins Chabane, Deputy Minister Sue van der Merwe International Relations Advisor, Ambassador Lindiwe Zulu; Economic Advisor, Mr Mandisi Mpahlwa, as well as South African Ambassador to the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Bhekisizwe Gila and Lungile Pepani;South African Ambassador to the African Union are in Isla Margarita, Venezuela for the  2nd Africa – South America (ASA) scheduled for the 26-27 September 2009.

Whilst in Venezuela, President Zuma will also use the opportunity to hold bilateral meetings with his Latin American counterparts, Venezuela President Hugo Chavez, Chilean President, Dr. Michele Bachelet as well as Uruguay President Tabare Vazquesz. These engagements are aimed at strengthening South – South cooperation as well as bilateral relations between South Africa and her Latin American counterparts.

Background to the Africa – South America Summit initiative

      The 1st ASA of Heads of State and Government (HoSG) held in Abuja, Nigeria on 30 November 2006, adopted the Abuja Declaration and the Plan of Action. Key to this Declaration was the establishment of the Africa-South America Cooperative Forum of Heads of State and Government (ASA); that should meet every two years, alternatively in the two regions.

The 2nd Summit between Africa and Latin American countries was preceded by the Ministerial and Senior Officials Meetings.

ASA Summit principally seeks to deepen and intensify South-South Cooperation. In addition the 2nd Summit aims to:

• Adopt strategies and measures that will translate the vision of the Africa-South America Cooperative Forum into concrete economic, political and social benefits;
• Intensify cooperation and consultation at all levels to exploit the immense opportunities which bound the two continents;
• Explore and exploit opportunities for cooperation and collaboration in the areas of Agriculture, Trade, and Investment, Energy, Technology, Water Resources and Tourism;
• Promote South-South Cooperation and the Consolidation of the African Agenda in the betterment of the African continent and the Countries of the South.
  
• Develop appropriate common positions in multilateral negotiations such as the reform of the Global Multilateral System of Governance and the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

Both Africa and Latin America seek congruency on several issues affecting the two regions such as: Reform of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) in line with the Common African Position on the UN Reform as stipulated in the Ezulwini Consensus and the Sirte Declaration of the Assemble of Heads of State and Government of July 2005 and; the resumption and successful conclusion of the Doha Round.

Furthermore the two regions have much in common in areas such as capacity building and cooperation in the areas of social upliftment, rural development, tourism, renewable energy, policies on climate change, science and technology, sport, education and cultural exchange, as well as advancement of the interests of the developing world at a multilateral level.

In light of the aforesaid the 2nd ASA Summit is expected to adopt a Declaration and Plan of Action as its key outcome.

President Jacob Zuma and his delegation will return to South Africa on 28 September 2009.
        
For more information contact International Relations and Cooperation, Spokesperson, Nomfanelo Kota on + 27 82 459 3787 or Presidential Spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya on + 27 72 715 0024

Issued by the Department of International Relations and Cooperation.
C/o South African Embassy to the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela
Venezuela

26 September 2009