The governments of South Africa and Switzerland signed a declaration of intent on joint co-operation in Africa during an official visit by South African President Thabo Mbeki to Switzerland this week.
Mbeki made the visit at the invitation of President Pascal Couchepin of the Swiss Confederation, and was accompanied by South African Trade and Industry Minister Alec Erwin and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Aziz Pahad.
The Swiss President was accompanied by Switzerland’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ms Calmey-Rey and the Minister of Economic Affairs, Joseph Deiss.
Discussions focused on issues pertaining to the deepening of already existing bilateral ties, increased trade and investment between the two countries, joint co-operation initiatives in Africa and international issues of mutual concern.
A declaration of intent on joint co-operation in Africa between the two governments was signed by ministers Erwin and Calmy-Rey. The objective of this declaration is to enhance co-operation on joint initiatives within the context of the African Union and its programme, the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (Nepad).
These initiatives include priority areas such as humanitarian assistance, international humanitarian law, development assistance, governance, private enterprise promotion and economic empowerment, bridging the digital divide, regional trade, as well as conflict prevention and peace promotion, non-proliferation of small arms and light weapons and de-mining action.
In this regard, conflict management and peace building in Burundi and the Great Lakes region, as well as the reconstruction of Angola were identified.
Discussions further centred around other international issues of mutual concern namely, post-war Iraq, and the Middle-East peace process, in particular, the Peace Roadmap, and international terrorism. In addition, both governments re-affirmed their confidence in the centrality of the United Nations and other multilateral bodies.
During the visit, Mbeki and his delegation met with representatives of major Swiss businesses to exchange views on the development of a conducive environment for trade and investment between South Africa and Switzerland.
He also clarified South Africa’s position on, inter alia, the final Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) report and subsequent reparation claims for victims of apartheid, Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) and the African Peer Review Mechanism.
A separate meeting between ministers Erwin and Deiss was also held to discuss bilateral and multilateral trade and investments issues, namely the European Fair Trade Association / (Southern African Customs Union negotiations, the post-Doha conference and the upcoming Cancun meeting.
The South African government further welcomed the consideration by the Swiss to create a “business hub” in South Africa to serve as a springboard to broaden the economic relations between Switzerland and the rest of Africa. – I-Net Bridge