Your Excellency, Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; Dr Goodluck Jonathan
Ministers, Deputy Ministers and Governors
Your Excellences, High Commissioners of both countries
Honourable Speakers of Parliaments of both countries
Governors
Honourable members of Parliament of both countries
Senior Government Officials
Distinguished guests
Ladies and gentlemen
Your Excellency, I am privileged to extend a very warm South African welcome to you and the members of your delegation.
Our country attaches the greatest importance to the close and cordial relations of friendship and mutually beneficial cooperation between our two governments and peoples, motivated by our common history and destiny as Africans.
Your Excellency, this year marks an important milestone in the relations between our two countries, in that we are celebrating the 10th Anniversary since the establishment of the South Africa–Nigeria Bi-national Commission.
Your Excellency, during the first Review Council Meeting held in December 2008 in Tshwane, my predecessor, Ms Baleka Mbete and your good self, Mr Vice President, decided on a programme of strategic activities to commemorate the 10 years of the existence of our BNC.
It was agreed that these activities would include mass-based (grass-roots) participation of stakeholders in sports, education, media, parliament, civil society, women, arts and culture, trade and commerce, among others. I am delighted to report that some of these activities have already taken place and are receiving support in South Africa. Critically, they re-affirm our conviction that fostering the people-to-people relations will benefit our peoples as we try to enhance our mutual relations. We are looking forward to an even more exciting second episode of these celebrations in Abuja when we visit you next month.
Your Excellency, our countries' economic relations have grown exponentially since the dawn of democracy in South Africa, as has the vigorous resumption of diplomatic relations between the two countries. We believe that the Joint Presidential Advisory Council on Investment that was launched at the second Review Council Meeting has the potential to assist our governments and business entities in realising our objectives.
Your Excellency
I am informed that our officials have prepared and recommended a Five-Year Implementation Plan elaborating a framework for our future cooperation and look forward to its finalisation with your good-selves when I visit Abuja next month.
It is these small but profound efforts from both countries that convince me that our diplomatic relations are destined to prosper.
Your Excellency, in less than eight months South Africa will be hosting the 2010 FIFA World Cup. This will be the crowning moment for all of us as Africans, and I trust that Nigeria, as does the rest of the continent, is equally proud of this momentous prospect for our continent.
Ghana's triumph at the recent under-20 FIFA World Cup signals what is possible for Africa in 2010. Their win inspired the rest of the continent and our spirits will rise higher should the 2010 World Cup trophy stay in Africa.
Once again, it feels good to be African!
Lastly, I wish to thank the Speaker of our Parliament and the Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces for making it possible for us to gather like this; and the Vice President and his delegation for taking time off to grace us with their presence. Your presence means a lot to us.
Ladies and gentlemen, please rise and join me in a toast to the good health and prosperity of His Excellency, Vice President Dr Goodluck Jonathan and to the friendship between the peoples of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and South Africa. To friendship, solidarity and "South Africa and Nigeria in Partnership for a Better Africa!"
I thank you!
Issued by: The Presidency
29 October 2009
Source: The Presidency (http://www.thepresidency.gov.za)
