Motlanthe back from Turkey visit
2012-06-09 22:20
Johannesburg - Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe is back in South Africa after a two day visit to the Republic of Turkey, the presidency said on Saturday.
"The purpose of the visit was to further strengthen bilateral political and economic relations between South Africa and Turkey," the presidency said in a statement.
"The highlight of the visit was the signing of an agreement on the establishment of the South Africa-Turkey Bi-National Commission, which elevated the relations between the two countries to a higher strategic level."
The presidency said the commission would enhance co-operation between the two countries in the fields of politics, economics, trade, defence, security, agriculture, minerals, energy, education, tourism, sport and the environment.
The commission would meet once every two years and would be co-chaired by Motlanthe and the Prime Minister of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
The Defence Industry Co-operation Agreement would be signed in South Africa in September this year.
A memorandum of understanding in renewable energy, energy efficiency and coal to liquid technology were at an advanced stage and would be signed in the near future, the presidency said.
Motlanthe arrived back in South Africa on Friday and was accompanied by energy minister Dipuo Peters, defence and military veterans minister Lindiwe Sisulu and deputy minister of international relations and co-operation Ebrahim Ebrahim.
- SAPA
