1. At the invitation of the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation of South Africa, Ms Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, Mr Utoni Nujoma, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Namibia, paid a one-day working visit to South Africa on 15 October 2012. The main purpose of his visit was to hold diplomatic consultations with his South African counterpart in preparation for the upcoming State Visit to South Africa by President Pohamba from 6 to 7 November 2012.
2. During their official talks, the two Ministers reviewed a wide range of bilateral, regional and international issues. They expressed great satisfaction at the warm and fraternal relations that exist between the two sister Republics.
3. The two ministers noted the deepening bilateral cooperation between the two countries in the fields of agriculture, transport, communications, energy, health, tourism, trade and investment, security and water and environment. Cooperation in these areas is facilitated by the implementation of more than 54 sectoral agreements and memoranda of understanding signed, over the years, between the two countries.
4. The two Ministers expressed their satisfaction at the progress made in preparation for the upcoming state visit. In this regard, they committed themselves to ensuring that all outstanding issues including legal instruments are finalised in time for the visit.
5. On regional issues, the two Ministers exchanged views on the prevailing political, economic and security situation in the region. In this context, the two Ministers re-affirmed their commitment to work together in pursuit of the regional economic integration.
6. On continental and international issues, the two Ministers expressed their commitment to the African unity and integration. They reiterated their common view on the need to reform the multilateral institutions including the United Nations Security Council and the Bretton Woods Institutions to better represent the interests of the developing countries.
Minister Nujoma expressed his gratitude to Minister Nkoana-Mashabane, the government and the people of the Republic of South Africa for the warm welcome and fraternal reception accorded to him and his delegation during the visit.
Joint Communiqué at the end of the meeting between Ms Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, Minister of International Relations and Cooperation of South Africa and Mr Utoni Nujoma, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Namibia in Pretoria, South Africa
