Mbeki off to meet Bush
2005-05-30 11:07
Pretoria - President Thabo Mbeki leaves for Washington on Monday for talks with United States President George W Bush ahead of the G8 summit in Scotland in July, the department of foreign affairs said.
Foreign affairs spokesperson Ronnie Mamoepa said Foreign Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma would accompany Mbeki to the discussions on Wednesday.
Mbeki had been consulting various G8 leaders with a view to ensuring practical outcomes for Africa and South Africa during the summit, Mamoepa said.
"There is a convergence of views between both President Mbeki and President Bush regarding the need for practical outcomes."
Mamoepa said the two leaders would also discuss conflict resolution and peacekeeping in Africa, the G8 Africa Plan, the United States' African Growth and Opportunity Act, the Millennium Challenge Account, and Overseas Development Aid to Africa.
South Africa, Algeria, Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal and Uganda have been invited to participate in the Africa outreach segment of the summit.
The African group, with Mexico and China, will also participate in discussions on climate change and debt relief.
Mamoepa said on Wednesday's talks would provide the leaders with an opportunity to consolidate their countries' existing strategic, bilateral and economic relations.
Mamoepa said South African exports to the US increased from $4888m in 2003 to $5 926m last year. South African imports from the US rose from $2 698m in 2003 to $2 977m in 2004.
- SAPA