St Petersburg
12 July 2006
South African President Thabo Mbeki, supported by Foreign Minister Dr
Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, will participate in the Group of Eight (G-8) Summit in
St Petersburg, Russian Federation scheduled from Sunday to Monday, 16-17 July
2006. President Thabo Mbeki, together with the Presidents of India, Brazil,
Mexico, and China, has been invited to the G-8 Summit as Strategic Outreach
Partners and will participate in a round table discussion on Monday, 17 July
2006.
President Thabo Mbekiâs participation in the G-8 Summit comes within the
context of South Africaâs commitment to promote North-South co-operation in
support of the African Agenda through, among others, the G-8. In addition,
President Mbeki and the Strategic Outreach Partners will also hold discussions
on the margins of the G-8 Summit with a view to strengthening South-South
co-operation and consolidating the development agenda of the South.
The Chairperson of the African Union, President Denis Sassou Nguesso and
Khazakstan in its capacity as Chair of the Commonwealth of Independent States,
has also been invited to participate in the Outreach segment of the Summit.
The Secretary-General of the United Nations Kofi Annan and representatives
of the various international organisations including the World Bank, United
Nations Education, Science and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), the
International Atomic Energy Agency, the World Health Organisation and the
International Energy Agency are also expected to participate in the 2006
Outreach Meeting.
The 2006 G-8 Summit, under Russiaâs chairpersonship, will for the first time
integrate the African agenda into all G-8 deliberations. In addition, outcomes
of the G-8 Summit will continue to be evaluated for their impact on the African
development agenda and other developing countries.
The 2006 G-8 Outreach Segment is expected to look at:
* international energy security
* education
* infectious diseases.
In addition discussions will also focus on:
* international trade
* a presentation on Africa.
President Mbeki is expected to return to South Africa on Tuesday, 18 July
2006.
Enquiries:
Ronnie Mamoepa
Cell: 082 990 4853
Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
12 July 2006
