Africa-Sweden Binational Commission In Stockholm, Sweden
3 October 2007
Stockholm - Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka has
today, Wednesday, 3 October 2007 officially opened the 5th session of
the South Africa-Sweden Binational Commission with her
Swedish counterpart, Deputy Prime Minister Maud Olofsson.
Upon arrival, Deputy President Mlambo-Ngcuka, supported by a senior South
African delegation, held a courtesy meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Maud
Olofsson.
Deputy President Mlambo-Ngcuka emphasised the need for the two countries to
continue strengthening and consolidating the already warm relations within the
context of South Africa's priority to strengthen political and trade relations
with Sweden.
Accordingly, Deputy President Mlambo-Ngcuka committed South Africa to continue
consolidating people-to-people relations between South Africa and Sweden.
The 5th South Africa-Sweden Binational Commission will place emphasis on
investment, the Accelerated and Shared Growth Initiative for South Africa
(AsgiSA) and the Joint Initiative for Priority Skills Acquisition (JIPSA) and
explore possibilities for enhanced co-operation on issues around the
consolidation of the African Agenda, trilateral co-operation and co-ordination
of activities aimed at promoting conflict prevention and promotion of post -
conflict reconstruction.
Issues on the Agenda of discussions between Deputy President Mlambo-Ngcuka and
Deputy Prime Minister Olofsson are expected to include, among
others :
* Sweden's support of AsgiSA and JIPSA
* a review of developments following up on previous BNC meetings
* a review of African issues, including the work around the African Union, the
New Partnership for Africa's Development (Nepad), Southern African Development
Community (SADC), the Great Lakes, Horn of Africa and Western Sahara
* update on global developments by Sweden around the European Union (EU),
Migration and Kosovo, including other issues of mutual multilateral
concern.
Whilst in Sweden, Deputy President Mlambo-Ngcuka is also expected to hold
discussions with SAAB\Gripen International, the Swedish Ministers for
Employment, Sven Otto Littorin and Education and Science Lars Leijonborg,
concerning AsgiSA and JIPSA and Mr Dan Olofsson, chairman of Star Schools
Project in South Africa.
Tomorrow, 4 October 2007, Deputy President Mlambo-Ngcuka will also lay a wreath
at the grave of the late Olof Palme and present a lecture at the Swedish
Institute of International Affairs.
Enquiries: Thabang Chiloane
Cell: 00 27 82 8888783
Issued by: The Presidency
3 October 2007
