Foreign Affairs on occasion of Saudi Arabia National Day Celebration, Sheraton
Hotel
10 September 2007
Your Excellency Faisal Moalla, Charge d' Affaires of Saudi Arabia
Ambassadors and High Commissioners
Members of the Diplomatic Corps
Distinguished guests
Ladies and gentlemen
The celebration of a country's national day is always an important occasion,
because it provides an opportunity to look back at a nation's history, its
current dynamics and vision for the future. On the 77th National Day of the
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, I feel honoured to present my best wishes to the
Government and people of Saudi Arabia, who are represented in South Africa with
such distinction by the Chargé d' Affaires, Faisal Moalla, and his staff. On
behalf of our government and the people of South Africa, I wish to convey to
you our congratulations and the sincere good wish on the celebration of your
country's National Day. We are all witness to the tremendous efforts by your
country to create a physical, economic and human infrastructure which would
serve your people well in a constantly changing environment.
Since the normalisation of our diplomatic relations in 1994, the principles
on which South Africa's relations with Saudi Arabia have been based are
economic, social and cultural progress. This is why the South African political
leadership, as well as people from all walks of life, are forging increasingly
close links with the Kingdom, all in the pursuit of the well-being of people at
home and of the peoples of our respective regions.
It is gratifying to note that bilateral relations between South Africa and
the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have developed both in scope and depth over the
past few years. In the past year, we have had significant interaction at all
levels; political, economic and cultural. Various official visits have taken
place, the most important of which was the President's working visit to the
Kingdom in March this year. We are hoping for these to be sustained and look
forward to a visit to South Africa by Prince Saud Al-Faisal, the Foreign
Minister of Saudi Arabia, who has already accepted an invitation from Minister
Dlamini Zuma. We are also in the process of negotiating important agreements
that will facilitate business, cultural, educational and scientific
interaction.
The second meeting of the Saudi-South Africa Joint Bilateral Commission in
Riyadh in March 2006 also paved the way for strengthening our existing
bilateral economic ties. South Africa is looking forward to hosting the next
meeting of the Joint Commission early next year and to reciprocate the
hospitality given to our delegation last year. So, ladies and gentlemen, we are
establishing the building blocks for a structurally firm and mutually
beneficial relationship within which our people can do business, share their
cultures, do research together and learn from each other.
Both South African and Saudi Arabian trade and retail companies have made
significant strides in promoting bilateral investments in these respective
areas. Bilateral trade is gaining momentum and has increased by at least 12
percent every year since 2003. We would obviously also like to see Saudi
Arabian companies taking advantage of the opportunities in investing in the
infrastructure projects that will be rolled out over the next few years,
particularly for the World Cup Soccer event in 2010.
Another important feature of our relations is the journey to Saudi Arabia of
thousands of South Africa Muslim pilgrims, who perform the Hajj and Umrah every
year. We pay tribute to His Royal Highness, King Abdullah, as Custodian of the
Two Holy Mosques and we deeply appreciate the hospitality and care with which
the pilgrims from South Africa have been received through the years.
We are confident that the interaction of Saudi Arabia as a member of the
Gulf Co-operation Council or Gulf Co-operation (GCC) with Africa will encourage
all members of this organisation to share, through New Partnership for Africa's
Development (Nepad), the vision of Africa's development and reintegration into
the world economy.
Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to thank the Chargé d' Affaires and his
staff for this sumptuous function. I am told that there is an Arabic saying to
the effect that if you are not hospitable, you should not bother opening a
restaurant. I am sure the guests here today will agree that the hospitality we
are being offered is proof of the legendary Arab generosity, and to the
prospects for our further collaboration and the strengthening of our
friendship.
Ladies and gentlemen, this function takes place just a few days before the
onset of the holy month of Ramadan. Let me therefore also wish all Muslims
'Ramadan Mubaarak.'
On behalf of government and the people of South Africa, it now gives me
great pleasure and a special sense of pride to wish His Royal Highness, King
Abdullah, the government and all the people of Saudi Arabia, good health,
peace, prosperity and success for the future.
Shukran, I thank you!
Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
10 September 2007
Source: Department of Foreign Affairs (http://www.dfa.gov.za)
