International Relations and Cooperation Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane will receive her French counterpart, Minister Alain Juppé, on Friday, 11 November 2011, at the OR Tambo Building in Pretoria.
The visit takes place within the context of further promoting North-South cooperation and strengthening and deepening political and economic relations with France as a leading bilateral partner and international role-player.
More particularly, the visit also seeks to promote consultation and cooperation between South Africa and France on a series of global and international issues of shared strategic significance, including but not limited to Africa.
South Africa and France share a common vision of a world where multilateralism, international law and the conduct of relations between states on the basis of equity and fairness provide the foundation for building a more peaceful and prosperous world.
The two countries recognise that the promotion of the freedoms and rights of all peoples all over the world is in the long-term of interest to all. The two countries also share a fundamental commitment to promoting peace, security, stability, prosperity and democracy on the continent of Africa in the full realisation that the success or failure of Africa cannot be divorced from the success or failure of Europe, or indeed the world.
It is expected that the topics for consultation between the Ministers will include, amongst others, the strengthening of the strategic partnership between the two countries in the aftermath of the successful State Visit to France by President Jacob Zuma in March 2011, issues affecting the promotion of peace, security and development in Africa and elsewhere on the globe, the promotion of a more inclusive, efficient and equitable system of global governance, and multilateral issues of critical importance such as COP17/CMP7.
Members of the media are invited as follows:
Bi-lateral media briefing
Date: 11 November
Time: 11h30
Venue: Media briefing room, OR Tambo Building, Pretoria.
NB: Please RSVP with SingoC@dirco.gov.za
Statement by Mr Clayson Monyela, spokesperson for DIRCO,
Enquiries:
Nelson Kgwete
Cell: 076 608 8567
