Joint Statement: “Mexico and South Africa: Towards a Priority Relationship”

The Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the United Mexican States, Ambassador Patricia Espinosa Cantellano, and the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation of the Republic of South Africa, Honorable Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, having met in Mexico City on April 19, 2010, express our pleasure for the increasingly close ties of friendship and cooperation between South Africa and Mexico. 

We are pleased to acknowledge that Mexico and South Africa share important similarities that transcend their levels of development and their regional and global roles.  Our peoples share the desire of building pluralistic and democratic societies, and of finding ways to achieve sustainable development that reaches everyone without exception. The steps taken by both in the international arena are guided by common principles and values, and by an unwavering commitment to peace and security, to strengthening multilateralism and to the rule of international law.

On this basis, we have agreed to work together to strengthen our dialogue on issues of mutual interest at the bilateral, regional and multilateral levels. We will promote bilateral consultations through the established mechanisms, in particular the Mechanism for Consultations on Issues of Mutual Interest, as well as through high-level political dialogue. Both sides will explore ways to strengthen and expand the legal framework between the two countries. 

Convinced that investment and trade are essential for sustained economic growth and for creating opportunities for their societies, both countries will make efforts to increase their economic ties by promoting mutual understanding between their economic actors, as well as a climate that facilitates the exchange of goods, services and capital between Mexico and South Africa.

Aware that scientific and technological development is an engine of development and welfare for their societies, Mexico and South Africa will share experiences and best practices, seeking complementarities between their respective capabilities in specific sectors. In this context, both will work to promote exchanges of scientists and researchers in priority areas for both countries, including: social development; agriculture and forestry resources; the environment and natural resources; energy; infrastructure and public works.

Assured of the central role of education in the economic, social and intellectual development of their societies, and of the importance of culture as an instrument of understanding between nations, South Africa and Mexico will promote educational cooperation, strengthen cultural exchanges and encourage contacts between the scientific, academic, business, artistic and cultural communities, in order to promote mutual understanding and to advance the process of institutionalising their bilateral relationship.

Aware of the responsibility of Mexico and South Africa as important actors in the international arena, we confirm the interest of our governments to intensify consultations in the international fora in the search for consensus and solutions to issues of common interest on the global agenda, including: reform of the UN and global governance; climate change; migration and the fight against transnational organised crime.

Based on the foregoing, we agree to jointly develop an Action Plan for the development of the various areas that make up the bilateral relationship, which we commit to signing in the near future. 

Signed in Mexico City, Federal District, the nineteenth day of April of the year two thousand and ten in two original copies in Spanish and English.