South Africa's FM to visit Indonesia, discuss relations

Veeramalla Anjaiah, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta

South African Foreign Minister Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma arrives in Jakarta on Wednesday to lay the groundwork for the opening of a new chapter in her country's relations with Indonesia.

"During her five-day visit, Dr Dlamini Zuma will hold discussions with her Indonesian counterpart (Hassan Wirayuda) on bilateral ties, with a special focus on political and economic matters. Both countries maintain very strong and cordial relations at a political level," South Africa's Ambassador to Indonesia Norman M. Mashabane told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.

Dlamini Zuma, a medical doctor-turned activist, will also make preparations for African President Thabo Mbeki's first ever state visit to Indonesia .

"Actually, President Mbeki will visit Indonesia in April 2005 for two purposes. One is to strengthen existing relations and enhance economic cooperation between the two countries, and the other is to attend the historic second Asian-African Conference," Mashabane said.

Indonesia will hold the second Asian-African Conference in Jakarta and Bandung from April 21 to April 23, 2005. The first conference was held in Bandung in 1955. Although South Africa, as a state, did not participate, the conference was attended by African National Congress leaders Walter Sisulu, Molvi Cachalia and Moses Kotane.

Indonesia has invited more than 100 countries from Asian and African continents to the conference, which will focus on strengthening cooperation in various fields to form a strategic partnership between the two continents.

South Africa, which established its diplomatic relations in 1995, hosted the Asia Africa Subregional Conference (AASROC)'s ministerial meeting in August 2004 in Durban, in preparation for the Asian-African conference.

Mashabane said economic relations between South Africa and Indonesia are improving rapidly.

"In 2003, we imported US$233.2 million in goods from Indonesia, and our exports to this country reached $158.1 million. Our overall bilateral trade will increase this year -- significantly," the ambassador told the Post.

Recently, an Indonesian delegation visited South Africa to study its policies on tax amnesty.

"We can share our experience in the areas of reconciliation and human rights. We, in South Africa, now live in harmony, even with our former rulers," Mashabane said.