Mbeki and Bush discussions
7 December 2006
Washington: South African Foreign Minister, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, on
Wednesday night, 6 December, arrived in Washington from Japan where she is
scheduled to form part of President Mbeki's delegation to bilateral discussions
with United States (US) President George Bush scheduled for Friday, 8 December
2006, at the White House.
Minister Dlamini Zuma was in Tokyo, Japan, where she held bilateral
discussions with her Japanese counterpart, Foreign Minister Taro Aso, with a
view to the consolidation of political and economic relations between South
Africa and Japan within the context of national efforts to ensure a faster and
shared economic growth.
Discussion between President Thabo Mbeki and President George Bush will
focus on among others:
* the status of bilateral political and economic relations between both
countries
* conflict resolution and peacekeeping in Africa
* multilateral co-operation including developments in the World Trade
Organisation (WTO) negotiations
* South Africa's accession to the non-permanent seat in the United Nations
Security Council (UNSC)
* other issues of international concern.
The economic relationship between South Africa and the US remain on a firm
footing with continuing US interest in investment in South African industry and
expanding the trade relationship, which is currently in South Africa's favour.
The US is also focussing on stimulating economic growth and small, medium and
micro enterprise (SMME) development through their United States Agency for
International Development (USAID) programme.
Total trade is approaching R60 billion with an annual increase of
approximately 11 percent. South Africa has in the past decade been a major
recipient of development assistance from the USAID. Activities under USAID
partnership will in 2006 reach over 827 700 individuals with basic services and
provide a capital investment of R40 million.
President Mbeki is expected to return to South Africa on 9 December
2006.
Contact:
Ronnie Mamoepa
Cell: 082 990 4853
Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
7 December 2006
