Minister Nawabzada Khan, Honourable Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of the Government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan,
Distinguished colleagues,
It is a great honour for me to meet you today. I thank you most sincerely for making time available in your busy schedule to receive me and my delegation and I am very grateful for the warm and gracious reception that we have received in your country.
The world, in which we live, has increasingly become a global village in which the family of nations is closer than at any other period in history. No longer can we remain ignorant about a major development or catastrophe in some remote part of the world, but we must take note of all developments because everything has an impact on each of our lives.
Since the beginning of this year, nature has visited us with a number of cataclysmic events. We are hearing of all kinds of difficulties and upheavals. There are many signs of a world under stress and we must use every possible opportunity to talk to each other; to keep on exploring for new avenues to follow in our joint desires to make our world a better place for all.
Turning now to relations between South Africa and Pakistan, I am pleased to acknowledge the warm and cordial relations that we enjoy. Our two countries have a great deal in common and there is much that we can learn from each other’s experiences. We are both emerging economies and both our Governments face challenges to address inequality and alleviate poverty.
We are happy that we have a formal instrument through which we may articulate our views and concerns and that we could use to deepen and expand our relations. We are looking forward to formalise the dates for the next Joint Commission that, unfortunately, we have had to postpone until 2013.
Excellency,
In the difficult times that economies are facing all over the world, it seems clear that what is needed to ensure stability and prowess in the “new” global world order, is renewed emphasis on leadership and vision, and we wish you all the very best with the very important elections that you are planning for 2013.
Thank you.
