The African continent has much to learn from the successes of Asia, President Thabo Mbeki told reporters in Pretoria on Tuesday.
He was speaking after the signing of an agreement at the Union Buildings on the avoidance of double taxation between South Africa and Malaysia.
Mbeki said South Africa can learn from Asia’s management of economic growth and development, managing democratic society and the development of science and technology.
The deal was signed by Minister of Finance Trevor Manuel and Malaysia’s Minister of International Trade and Industry, Rafidah Aziz.
The signing was part of Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s official visit to South Africa.
”We are very pleased indeed that the prime minister has been able to come to reaffirm the very warm relationship that exists between our two countries,” Mbeki said.
Badawi said his delegation to South Africa includes business people who are to meet their counterparts to undertake increasing Malaysian investment in South Africa.
He said the tourism departments of both countries have met and discussed increasing tourism between South Africa and Malaysia.
Mbeki had earlier in the day hosted Badawi for talks that were to include briefing him on the outcomes of the Group of Eight summit and their implications for the agenda of the South, the status of bilateral political and economic relations between the two countries and opportunities for increased relations between the African Union and the Association of South-East Asian Countries.
Developments within the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) and a review of preparations for the next NAM summit in Cuba were also discussed.
Malaysia is the current chairperson of the NAM. Badawi said the organisation has ”some concerns about Zimbabwe” but would not want to interfere in its affairs. He said, however, the NAM will do what it can ”to help sort things out”.
On the subject of reform of the United Nations Security Council, Badawi said the NAM not only supports South Africa’s position, but has in fact been one of the first organisations to lobby for change in the UN. — Sapa