Mbeki in Malaysia for 3 days

2003-09-01 12:16

Cape Town - President Thabo Mbeki is due to arrive in Malaysia on Monday for a three-day visit to engage in bilateral discussions on a wide range of issues - including the upcoming Cancun trade talks - with outgoing Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad. Government news agency BuaNews said discussions between Mbeki and Mahathir were expected to cover developments in Africa with regard to Nepad and the African Union (AU), conflict resolution in Africa and ongoing peace efforts in central and west Africa as well as positions to be taken to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) meeting in Cancun, Mexico, from September 10 to 14. The meeting will also discuss strengthening and consolidating relations between the Association of South East Asian Nations and the AU. Briefing the media in Pretoria before the trip, deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Aziz Pahad said the visit was important because Malaysia had been actively involved in African programmes and it was committed to the implementation of Nepad programmes and the Asian-African solidarity. "(The meeting will also discuss) the increased acts of terrorism in the Asian region and how we can cooperate to fight against terrorism," he said. It is anticipated that a joint statement on the establishment of a joint trade committee, an agreement on economic, scientific, technical and cultural cooperation as well as a memorandum of understanding concerning the establishment of a joint commission for economic, scientific, technical and cultural cooperation would be signed. Trade relations between the two countries have been hailed as healthy, although the balance at the moment favours Malaysia, said the foreign affairs department, adding that the situation needed to be urgently addressed. Relations between the two countries are active in the areas of tourism, education and culture, economic, trade and investment as well as defence. Total trade between the two countries increased from over one billion rand in 1994 to over five billion rand last year. Malaysia has also trained and educated more than 300 South Africans through opportunities ranging from short specialised training programmes to full degree programmes. The department added that tourism between the two had recorded a steady increase, adding that Malaysian Airlines had operated three flights per week to South Africa since May. Meanwhile, President Mbeki will also bid farewell to Mahathir who will be retiring - after 20 years - next month. He will also officially meet Prime Minister-designate Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

- I-Net Bridge (Business)