President of the Republic of South Africa, His Excellency Mr Jacob Zuma, will lead a South African delegation to the fifth session of the Bi-National Commission (BNC) between South Africa and Algeria scheduled for 25 and 26 May 2010.
The visit to Algeria comes within the framework of the consolidation of the African agenda and the fifth session of the Bi-National Commission will serve as a platform for the two Heads of State to discuss broad bilateral and multilateral issues of mutual interest to the two countries.
The Bi-National Commission was established by the Agreement of 22 September 2000 as a structured framework for cooperation, to promote political and socio-economic relations between the Republic of South Africa and the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria. Six technical working groups will report on progress made regarding the programmes of action agreed to. The technical groups are:
* Quality of life and human resources
* People-to-people cooperation
* Energy and infrastructure
* Natural resources
* Defence and security
* Trade and investment
The bilateral relations and cooperation between the two countries have contributed to the elevation of the Joint Bi-National Commission to a full presidential level and further culminated in the conclusion of 26 bilateral agreements to date. The fifth session of the BNC is preceded by a Senior Officials Meeting which took place in South Africa from 30 to 31 March 2010.
International Relations and Cooperation Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane and Mr Mourad Medelci, Algeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, co-chaired the plenary session for the senior officials meeting on 31 March 2010. The respective ministers are charged within the framework of the BNC to facilitate the implementation of this programme.
It is expected that the Bi-National Commission will further provide an opportunity for all outstanding Agreements and Programmes of Action between the two countries to be finalised.
For more information contact:
Saul Kgomotso Molobi
Chief Director for Public Diplomacy
Cell: 082 940 1647
Tel: 012 351 1000
E-mail: molobisk@dirco.gov.za
Issued by: Department of International Relations and Cooperation
23 May 2010
