President Jacob G. Zuma arrives in the Russian Federation for the official visit.

South Africa’s President Jacob. G. Zuma has today, Thursday, 5 August 2010, arrived in the Russian Federation for the official visit scheduled for 5-6 August 2010. The President’s official visit to Russia is guided by the Treaty of Friendship and Partnership (2006) which affirmed the South Africa-Russia strategic partnership for mutually beneficial bilateral, continental and multilateral cooperation. The visit is the first by President Zuma to Russia, following the State visit to South Africa of former Russian Federation’s President Vladimir Putin in 2006.

The visit takes place within the context of strengthening North-South cooperation with the aim of consolidating, strengthening and enhancing political relations (bilateral and multilateral); economic and commercial relations; and cooperation and partnership on culture, education and skills development.

President Zuma will have a bilateral meeting with Pres Dmitry Medvedev and it is expected that among others they will discuss:

• Setting up a Bi-National Commission (BNC) or an appropriate Mechanism for regular Presidential Summit level meetings;
• Advancing the national innovation and economic competitiveness priorities of Russia’s modernisation strategy with particular emphasis on minerals (especially Platinum Group of Metals), energy (uranium access and nuclear power investments), science and technology (especially nanotechnology, biotechnology, space technology), defence and aerospace,
• Recent Ministerial Political Consultations which confirmed good political relations and political solidarity; and also
• Continued partnership in the Intergovernmental Committee on Trade and Economic Cooperation (ITEC), the Joint Intergovernmental Commission on Military Technological Cooperation; Joint Commission  on Science and Technical Cooperation and a Working Group on Cooperation in the Field of Outer Space as well as The Joint Coordinating Committee. 

During the visit the two Presidents are expected to sign amongst others the following agreements:

• MoU between the South African Space Agency and the Russian Federal Space Agency on Cooperation in the Field of Earth Observation;
• An Agreement on the visa exemption for diplomatic, official and service passports;
• MoU between the South African Space Agency and the Russian Federal Space Agency on Cooperation in the Field of Earth Observation.

President is accompanied by eleven ministers – and these are the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation; Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries; Minister of Defence and Military Veterans; Minister of Higher Education and Training; Minister of Energy; Minister of Mineral Resources; Minister of Science and Technology; Minister of State Security; Minister of Trade and Industry; Minister of Transport and Minister of Tourism.

The President will also be accompanied by a strong business delegation of 107 covering from the following sectors: Agro-processing, Aviation, Banking and Finance, Defence and Aerospace, Energy, Engineering, ICT, Infrastructure (Construction), Logistics, Medical and Health Services, Machinery and Tourism.

President Zuma and his delegation will leave the Russian Federation for South Africa on the evening of 7 August 2010.

For further information please contact the President’s Special Advisor on Communications, Mr Zizi Kodwa, on +27 82 330 4910. Alternatively, contact DIRCO’s Chief Director for Public Diplomacy, Mr Saul Kgomotso Molobi, on +27 82 940 1647, +27 341 0083 or email him at molobis@dirco.gov.za.

Issued by Department of International Relations and Cooperation
OR Tambo Building
460 Soutpansberg Road
Rietondale
Pretoria
0001

5 August 2010