RI, South Africa sign economic and scientific agreements

RI, South Africa sign economic and scientific agreements

Rendi A. Witular, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

In an effort to strengthen their relationship, Indonesia and South Africa have signed several agreements in the field of economy and science.

The bilateral agreements were inked on Tuesday after President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono met visiting South African President Thabo Mbeki at the State Palace for high-level talks.

The documents signed by the two countries include a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Agricultural Development Cooperation, a joint statement on the establishment of the joint trade committee, and a letter of intent between the Surabaya Zoo in Indonesia and the National Zoological Garden of South Africa.

"The agreements will help enhance the relationship between these two countries that have an interconnected history. Countries in Asia and Africa need to work closely to address global problems together," Mbeki said standing next to Susilo after the meeting.

Before it became a British colony, a part of South Africa was once a Dutch colony.

Mbeki also reiterated the commitment of South Africa to help Indonesia counter the threat of global terrorism and said his country was interested to learn from Indonesia about how to address such problems.

Mbeki arrived in Jakarta on Tuesday on a two-day state visit ahead of the 50th Asian-African Summit from April 22 to 23.

During the conference, Susilo said he was pleased the two nations' talks were productive.

"We expect the agreement will drive us to be more active in the trade and economic sectors, as well as help us intensify efforts to draw up other agreements," Susilo said.

Meanwhile, Minister of Agriculture Anton Apriyantono said the cooperation in the agricultural sector between the two countries would help boost the commodity trade, which was currently insignificant.

Anton said Indonesia would promote the trade of three of its main agricultural products -- cacao beans and coffee -- while South Africa would promote cotton, corn and fertilizer.

"Under the joint trade committee, both countries will explore ways how to boost the trade of these commodities. Aside from that, we will also initiate an exchange in agricultural science and technology," Anton said.

Mbeki said the Asian-African Summit was an important way for nations in the two continents to jointly address global problems.

Some local observers have questioned the need for the conference, which they say is an expensive talk-fest which offers little in the way of concrete benefits.

The Indonesian government has spent an estimated Rp 400 billion (about US$44 million) to prepare the infrastructure and services needed to support the conference. The funds include the cost of accommodation and luxury cars for foreign leaders.

"When nations in Asia and Africa are gathered together, it is not merely a ceremony. Asia and Africa share the same problems with settlements that can be sought together. There are so many opportunities between us that have yet to be tapped," Mbeki said.

"The conference will offer the possibility for Asia and Africa to form a strategic partnership, either for addressing global threats and problems or for cooperation in the United Nations," he said.

Meanwhile, Susilo said he hoped the summit would go ahead with a similar spirit as the one in the 1950s had.

"I disagree with critics that say the conference is merely a ceremony. In the 1950s, the conference aimed to fight imperialism, and now the event is needed to fight global injustice, poverty and underdevelopment," Susilo said.