Zuma to attend nuclear summit

2012-03-22 13:10

Pretoria - President Jacob Zuma is to attend the 2012 Nuclear Security Summit in the South Korean capital, Seoul, next week.

Briefing the media on Thursday, following Cabinet's fortnightly meeting two days ago, government spokesperson Jimmy Manyi said the president would be one of more than 53 heads of state at the event, to be held on March 26 and 27.

"The main purpose of the summit is to... focus on facilitating national measures and international co-operation on nuclear security," he said.

According to the summit's website, the main issues to be discussed in Seoul are: co-operative measures to combat the threat of nuclear terrorism; protection of nuclear materials and related facilities; and, prevention of illicit trafficking of nuclear materials.

Manyi said Zuma would travel to Delhi, India, after the summit to attend the fourth Brics [Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa] summit.

"The Brics summit will focus on global governance matters, which include the global economy and global peace and security.

"The summit will also focus on sustainable development matters, which include climate change."

He said South Africa would "take advantage" of the event to advance the so-called African agenda.

It would also "seek support from Brics partners for Nepad [New Partnership for Africa's Development] infrastructure development and industrialisation initiatives on the African continent, and advocate for reform of global governance institutions", Manyi said.

- SAPA