Speech by Dr Ayanda Ntsaluba, Director-General of the Department of Foreign Affairs New Asian African Strategic Partnership (NAASP) Senior Officials Meeting (SOM), International Convention Centre, Durban

Honourable Minister ZST Skweyiya, Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs of South Africa,
Dr Primo Alvi Joelianto, Co-Chair of the NAASP SOM and Head of the Indonesian delegation,
Your excellencies, heads of delegation and delegates of the NAASP SOM,
Your excellency Dr Alzubedi, Dean of the Diplomatic Corps,
Your excellencies and members of the Diplomatic Corps,
Ladies and gentlemen,

As explained by Minister Skweyiya during his opening remarks, the 1955 conference led to the establishment of the Non-Aligned Movement. It is our hope that the new strategic partnership that we initiated last year will continue the legacy and vision of our leaders of 1955 and will lead to even greater achievements.

You will recall that during the Asia-Africa Summit in Jakarta, Indonesia in April 2005, our Heads of State and government reiterated commitments aimed at reinvigorating the "Spirit of Bandung" and paving the way for Asian-African co-operation to prosper in the new millennium. They reaffirmed that the New Asian African Strategic Partnership (NAASP) would ensure a collective effort to improve the quality of the lives of our peoples. Poverty, disaster, underdevelopment and disease would all be addressed under one all encompassing framework. It therefore becomes crucial that our two continents closely collaborate to ensure that political commitments translate into concrete actions.

At the summit last year, it was decided that the first meeting of the NAASP Senior Officials Meeting would be hosted by South Africa, as Co-Chair with Indonesia, during 2006. At the very onset of our meeting, it would be useful for us to chart our actions in line with the mandate of the NAASP SOM. In this regard, the SOM has to:

• first, review progress and problems faced in the implementation of the identified actions and activities from the Summit
• second, discuss problems and challenges within our respective countries and regions
• third, determine the challenges and opportunities to be addressed in the context of the Partnership and the related concrete actions and activities to be carried out in this regard
• fourth, determine focal points to lead or co-ordinate the implementation of such actions and activities
• fifth, plot the way forward
• sixth, formulate recommendations for the Ministerial meeting scheduled for 2007.

The purpose of the NAASP SOM would be to therefore consider the outcomes of the Asian African Summit of 2005, to assess the progress in terms of the implementation of NAASP, as well as to plot the way forward in terms of the concrete issues that have since emerged.

As African and Asian countries, we face similar socio-economic and development challenges in an unequal and fast globalising international world order. We have a common destiny, a destiny that has been forged over the past centuries together. In securing the future of this common destiny we have to ensure the sustainable development of our regions and the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) so that we can fully and effectively participate in the world economy and body politic. As countries of the South, we are a force that the developed world has to take seriously in order to attain a just and equitable world order to the benefit of all.

The success of assuming our rightful place in this new world order lies within the three pillars of engagement identified under NAASP, namely political solidarity, economic co-operation and socio-cultural collaboration. These core pillars will ensure that the institutionalisation of democratic principles and the practice of political, economic and corporate good governance are firmly entrenched within our societies. We will ensure that co-ordinated approaches to international relations are adopted so as to sustain international support for Asian and African development issues. We will work together to eradicate poverty and undertake trade, tourism and investment initiatives to better integrate ourselves into the world economy. We will jointly fight the evils of disease that ravage our continents and ensure that HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and other communicable diseases no longer impact upon our national development agendas. Furthermore, we will also ensure that active engagement with each other regarding human resource development, technical training, capacity building and knowledge sharing takes place.

Regarding the areas of co-operation that I have just highlighted, we need to actively move forward on constructive engagement between the two continents. It is vital that we ensure that there is a coordinated and harmonised approach between countries and institutions regarding the implementation of proposals, projects and programmes as registered in the draft Joint Action Matrix prepared for the SOM. Regular updating of the Matrix is crucial so as to ensure continuity and to ensure practical and concrete progress in order to make this initiative relevant to our people at grass roots level. Apart from national governments, the role of Regional Economic Communities (RECs) and continental bodies in concretising the Matrix cannot be over emphasised. It is for this reason that we have organised a side event for the Sub-Regional Organisations of Africa and Asia to discuss their role in implementing the NAASP agenda.

Furthermore honourable delegates, you will recall that the government of the Republic of Indonesia organised the Asian-African Workshop on the Role of Women and Youth in Jakarta in April 2005. The workshop provided an opportunity for participants to share experiences and reveal important best practices and lessons learned at the country and regional levels. The status, role and condition of women and youth as actors and beneficiaries of human-centred sustainable development were promoted. The NAASP SOM intends taking this process further with the holding of a women and youth side event. Discussions should take our work further and ensure that the important role of women and the youth is encapsulated within, and meaningfully contributes, to societal development. This should take place despite obstacles encountered within the context of Asian and African traditions, norms, cultures and values.

As regards the implementation of another important aspect of the NAASP agenda, the "soft launch" of a NAASP website, database and virtual Secretariat took place last week. The official launch shall take place during this meeting. The website will hopefully assist delegates in terms of obtaining more background and updated information on NAASP, current activities being undertaken and on the way forward. The relevant website address will be communicated to NAASP participants during the meeting. Participants will also be requested at a later stage to provide South Africa as host of the website with e-links to their most important institutions such as Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Industry, as well as Chambers of Commerce.

A few weeks ago, the South African government informed all member countries about the opportunity to provide inputs and comments relating to the NAASP. We wish to take this opportunity to thank the Moroccan and Japanese governments for preparing holistic inputs that we shall share with participants during the course of the meeting.
In conclusion, I would like to state that through this Partnership, we shall find ways to jointly address the current challenges that face our vast continents. Our similarities will solidify relations. Our differences will enable us to learn from each other. Either way, active implementation of the New Asian African Strategic Partnership will be of mutual benefit, aimed at improving the welfare of both Asians and Africans governed by relations based on respect, trust and equality.

Once again, South Africa welcomes you to Durban and wishes you successful deliberations.

Thank you.

The following comment is to be made by the Director General immediately before the first country statement to be made in the plenary session (after the lunch break)

Before we start the Plenary Session on country statements, I am sure that my Co-Chair will agree that in the interests of time and fairness, all statements will be strictly limited to seven (7) minutes per head of delegation. Furthermore, statements should be limited to confirming or further clarifying the status of "project and programme proposals" that were presented by the Heads of State or government at the 2005 summit in Jakarta, and not necessarily to make new statements. The focus of statements by delegates should therefore be to promote the implementation of existing proposals and the allocation of these projects and programme proposals to "champion" countries or institutions as an outcome, in order to enhance "ownership" of New Asian African Strategic Partnership (NAASP) initiatives by all.

Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
1 September 2006