Press Release
27 February 2013
Deputy Minister Ebrahim to host the South Africa-Japan Partnership Forum
The Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Mr Ebrahim Ebrahim, will host his Japanese counterpart, Mr Masaji Matsuyama, Parliamentary Senior Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs, for the 12th South Africa-Japan Partnership Forum, in Pretoria on 1 March 2013.
The Partnership Forum is a bilateral cooperation mechanism between South Africa and Japan that meets every two years to strengthen relations in the areas of trade and investment; developmental assistance; political dialogue; and science and technology.
Japan has consistently been one of South Africa’s three major trading partners. Over the past five years, the number of Japanese companies operating in South Africa and investments have increased.
South Africa and Japan share similar views on the importance of multilateralism, which includes non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and the reform of the UN system.
Japan provides ongoing support for the development of the African continent through the TICAD (Tokyo International Conference on African Development) multilateral process, which Japan is due to host in June 2013.
The forthcoming meeting presents an opportunity for both countries to discuss the above-mentioned issues as well as to follow up on decisions taken during the 11th Partnership Forum held in June 2011 in Tokyo, Japan.
Enquiries: Mr Clayson Monyela, Spokesperson for the Department of International Relations and Cooperation, 082 884 5974.
ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND COOPERATION
OR Tambo Building
460 Soutpansberg Road
Rietondale
Pretoria
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