3 May 2006

Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka's recent trip to Japan and Indonesia is expected to lead to greater economic cooperation between the two countries and South Africa.

Speaking to journalists in Pretoria on Tuesday, Deputy Foreign Minister Aziz Pahad said that Mlambo-Ngcuka had briefed her hosts in both countries on the Accelerated and Shared Growth Initiative for South Africa (Asgi-SA).

Japan
While in Japan, Mlambo-Ngcuka met with Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and senior government officials, representatives of the Japan International Co-operation Agency, and the chairperson of the Japan External Trade Organisation.

She also met with the governor of the Japan Bank for International Co-operation, leaders of major Japanese universities, a member of the SA-Japan Parliamentary Friendship League, and business executives from Keidanren (the Japanese Chamber of Commerce).

Japan was South Africa's third most important trade partner internationally in 2005, and has been South Africa's most important trade partner in Asia for several years.

"We concluded the visit confident that our sound political foundation will give rise to greater economic co-operation," Pahad said, adding: "We have agreed to exchange trade delegations."

He said that he, together with his Japanese counterpart, would lead the seventh session of the SA-Japan Co-operation Forum within a few weeks.

"The Deputy President has mandated the South African delegation to this forum to focus on implementing the objectives of Asgi-SA," Pahad said.

Indonesia
Mlambo-Ngcuka's trip to Indonesia came a year after the 2005 Afro-Asia Conference, where leaders committed themselves, through the New Asia-Africa Strategic Partnership, to intensify economic relations to reflect the strong socio-political links between Africa and Asia.

Indonesia and South Africa are co-chairs of the New Asia-Africa Strategic Partnership.

During Mlambo-Ngcuka's visit, Pahad said, it was agreed that South Africa would host 500 Afro-Asian officials in August to identify flagship projects under the Plan.

The meeting will also be used to prepare for the second Afro-Asia Summit to be hosted in South Africa.

President Thabo Mbeki has also invited Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to visit South Africa; the Indonesian minister of trade, together with a large business delegation, will visit the country this month.

Pahad said that, by the end of the two visits, the mission's perceptions were that there was a general understanding by the international community that South Africa had made great strides in the last 12 years, as well as a good understanding of SA's economic growth and its role in Africa and beyond.

Source: BuaNews

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	South African Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka (Image: Lutheran World)

	Asgi-SA: accelerated growth for all Asgi-SA boon to multinationals SA cements ties with Indonesia SA leads Asian-African partnership SA, Japan extend partnership South African trade with Asia

	Department of Foreign Affairs  Department of Trade and Industry

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