South Africa's FM to visit Indonesia, discuss relations
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.