South Africa supports Iceland’s wish to join the United Nations Security Council, Foreign Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma said in Pretoria on Tuesday.
”South Africa has a seat in the UN Security Council for the first time, so we would be very happy to support their wish to join,” she told reporters.
The minister was hosting her Icelandic counterpart, Valgerdur Sverrisdottir, on her first visit to South Africa.
The parties had ”fruitful and constructive” discussions on political relations, increased foreign direct investment in South Africa, and reform of the UN. Trade and economic issues were also discussed.
Dlamini-Zuma said she was impressed by Iceland’s achievements in moving from a poor to a rich country with a high standard of living for its people.
She said South Africa could learn from Iceland in that regard.
”We are now looking at improving our cooperation in terms of business and other areas,” she said.
Sverrisdottir, who brought along a women-led business delegation, said she hoped the opening of the Icelandic embassy would further strengthen ties between the two countries.
The embassy was opened on Monday in Pretoria.
The balance of trade, which is three-to-one in favour of South Africa, was of concern to Sverrisdottir.
”I am concerned about the imbalance of trade — this is something we want to change. We also want to increase trade between the two countries. An agreement has already been signed,” she said.
Global warming was also an area of concern for Iceland.
The effect of global warming would be felt more at the North Pole than anywhere and this would be a real problem for Iceland, said Sverrisdottir, adding that countries needed to work together to combat global warming.
Regarding foreign direct investment, both ministers said their governments would create an environment for businesses to invest in each other’s countries.
Negotiations on protection of investment and double taxation between the countries was under way.
Sverrisdottir will depart on Wednesday. — Sapa