The President of the Republic of South Africa, H. E. Mr Jacob G. Zuma, will lead a High Level Delegation to the Third BRICS Summit in China this week

The President of the Republic of South Africa, H.E. Mr Jacob G. Zuma, will lead a high-level South African delegation to the Third BRICS Summit in Sanya, Hainan Province in the People’s Republic of China (PRC), which will be held on 14 and 15 April 2011.  The theme of the Summit is: “Broad Vision, Shared Prosperity”. PRC’s President Hu Jintao, in his capacity as the BRICS Chairperson, invited on behalf of the other BRIC Member States, South Africa to join the BRICS mechanism and President Zuma to attend the Summit.

South Africa’s participation in the Third BRICS Summit comes within the context of significant rise by emerging market economies, which have created a diplomatic initiative to serve as a platform for dialogue and cooperation.  The purpose is to advance the restructuring of the global governance institutions, notably the global economic and financial architecture into one that is more equitable, balanced and rests on the pillar of multilateralism.

President Zuma will use the Third Summit also as an opportunity to convey appreciation for the country’s invitation to become a full Member State of BRICS and to articulate the strategic importance South Africa attaches to this partnership as well as to ensure synergy of the BRICS mechanism agenda with the development and economic priorities of Africa such as infrastructure development, minerals beneficiation and value-addition, and agro-processing.

The Summit was preceded by a BRICS Think-Tank Seminar in Beijing on 24-25 March 2011 under the theme: “Development, Cooperation and Sharing”. An academic delegation from South Africa participated for the first time in the seminar and the country’s active contribution in this forum as a new BRICS member was warmly welcomed.

It is anticipated that during the Summit, the BRICS Member States will amongst others, focus on international issues of mutual interest; international economic and financial issues; development issues which will include discussions around Climate Change and sustainable development; and the programme of cooperation among BRICS Member States.

South Africa will also be participating in the BRICS Business Forum scheduled for 13-14 April 2011 and the BRICS Banking Cooperation Mechanism scheduled for 12-13 April 2011 on the sidelines of the Summit.

President Zuma has accepted an invitation from his Chinese counterpart to attend and deliver a statement at the Opening Ceremony of the BOAO Forum for Asia on 15 April 2011. The BOAO Forum is the Asian equivalent of the World Economic Forum held annually in Davos.

President Zuma will be accompanied by Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane (of International Relations and Cooperation), Minister Ebrahim Patel (of Economic Development) and Minister Rob Davies (of Trade and Industry). The President is due to arrive back in South Africa on 16 April 2011.

For further information please contact Mr. Clayson Monyela, Spokesperson for DIRCO, on 082 884 5974.

ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND COOPERATION

OR Tambo Building
460 Soutpansberg Road
Pretoria

10 April 2011