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Foreign relations

• Introduction
• South Africa and Africa
  • African Union (AU)
  • Southern Africa
  • Development co-operation
  • South Africa and the Southern African Development Community
  • Relations with central Africa
  • Relations with North and West Africa and the Horn of Africa
• Relations with Asia and the Middle East
  • Asia and Australasia
  • The Middle East
• Relations with the Americas
  • United States of America (USA)
  • Canada
  • The Caribbean
  • Latin America
• Relations with Europe
  • European Union
• Multilateral diplomacy
  • United Nations General Assembly (UNGA)
  • Commonwealth
  • Non-Aligned Movement

Introduction

• human rights and democracy
• justice and international law
• international peace and internationally agreed mechanisms for resolving conflicts
• Africa in world affairs
• economic development through regional and international co-operation.

The department continues to implement its strategic priorities in line with government’s foreign-policy objectives, outlined in the programme of the International Relations, Peace and Security Cluster.

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South Africa and Africa

South Africa’s development is inextricably linked to the development of Africa and the southern African region. Africa faces the challenge of positioning itself to address the marginalisation of the continent by engaging global role-players on socio-economic development and facilitating a fair and just global order.

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African Union (AU)

The AU is Africa’s premier institution and principal organisation for the promotion of the continent’s accelerated socio-economic integration, which will lead to greater unity and solidarity between African countries and peoples. South Africa was instrumental in establishing the AU and its organs, namely the:

• Assembly
• Executive Council
• specialised technical committees
• financial institutions
• Permanent Representative Council
• Peace and Security Council (PSC)
• Pan-African Parliament (PAP)
• Economic, Social and Cultural Council (Ecosocc)
• Court of Justice
• African Court on Human and People’s Rights
• African Commission on Human and People’s Rights.

The financial institutions, African Monetary Fund, African Central Bank and African Court of Justice, still have to be operationalised.

The 53-member AU was officially launched in Durban on 9 July 2002, following its inaugural summit.

It replaced the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), which was established on 25 May 1963 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The AU’s objectives include:

• achieving greater unity and solidarity between African countries and the peoples of Africa
• defending the sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence of its member states
• accelerating the political and socio-economic integration of the continent
• encouraging international co-operation
• promoting peace, security and stability on the continent
• promoting democratic principles and institutions, popular participation and good governance
• promoting and protecting people’s rights
• establishing the necessary conditions to enable the continent to play its rightful role in the global
• promoting co-operation in all fields of human activity to raise living standards
• promoting research in all fields
• eradicating preventable diseases and promoting good health on the continent.

The interim Ecosocc was launched on 29 March 2005 in Addis Ababa. The South African Chapter was launched with nine civil-society organisations elected as a secretariat from the following sectors: women, youth, religious groups, organised labour, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), lawyers, cultural groups and people with disabilities.

On 16 September 2004, the PAP was inaugurated at Gallagher Estate in Midrand, South Africa. The PAP’s current premises are temporary until 2010. Preparations are under way to identify a suitable site and construct the permanent headquarters of the PAP in South Africa.

The PAP is fully functional, although decisions emanating from sessions are not yet binding on member states. The current status quo of the PAP as an advisory body will be reviewed in 2009. South Africa has ratified the Protocol on the African Court of Human and People’s Rights. The Transvaal Judge President, Justice Bernard Ngoepe, has been appointed to an 11-member judiciary to serve on the court.

In May 2007, African ministers converged in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, to debate Africa's political and economic integration at the AU Foreign Ministers' Retreat and Executive Council meeting.

The eight existing regional economic communities (RECs), which include the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas), have begun to determine time lines to achieve free trade agreements and customs unions.

Promoting peace, security and stability on the continent

The AU is responsible for the peaceful resolution of conflict among member states, through such appropriate means as may be decided upon by the AU Assembly.

The PSC Protocol took effect in December 2003 and comprises 15 member states. The PSC was launched in Addis Ababa in May 2004. As a collective security and early warning arrangement, the PSC allows for a timely and effective response to conflicts and crises in Africa.

In terms of PSC statutes, all African countries should establish their own early warning centres and there should be a continental early warning centre in place by 2008.

The AU PSC Protocol provides for the creation of the African Standby Force, to be operationalised over 10 years.

The second extraordinary session of the AU Assembly, held in Libya in February 2004, adopted the Common African Defence and Security Policy [PDF].

Socio-economic development and integration of the continent

The AU is the principal institution responsible for promoting sustainable development at economic, social and cultural level, as well as integrating African economies. RECs are recognised as the building blocks of the AU, necessitating the need for their close involvement in formulating and implementing all AU programmes.

To this end, the AU must co-ordinate and take decisions on policies in areas of common interest to member states, as well as co-ordinate and harmonise policies between existing and future RECs, for the gradual attainment of the AU’s objectives.

Seven specialised technical committees are responsible for the actual implementation of the continental socio-economic integration process, together with the Permanent Representatives Committee.

New Partnership for Africa’s Development (Nepad)

The adoption of Nepad as the socio-economic development programme of the AU is considered one of the most important developments of recent times, placing Africa at the apex of the global agenda by:

• creating an instrument for advancing people-centred and sustainable development in Africa, based on democratic values
• being premised on the recognition that Africa has an abundance of natural resources and people who have the capacity to be agents for change, thus holding the key to its own development
• providing the common African platform from which to engage the rest of the international community in a dynamic partnership that holds real prospects for creating a better life for all.

The expected outcomes are:

• economic growth and development, and increased employment
• a reduction in poverty and inequality
• diversification of productive activities
• enhanced international competitiveness and increased exports
• increased African integration.

A major effort of the AU-mandated Nepad is to continuously factor Nepad imperatives into the outcomes of international conferences to ensure its integration into the global multilateral system.

In a wider context, countries of the South subscribe to the priorities outlined by Nepad and have pledged their solidarity and moral support, as well as an appreciation for South Africa’s positive role in Nepad.

To this end, the New Asia-Africa Strategic Partnership (NAASP) was inaugurated in Indonesia in April 2005.

Structures

Heads of State and Government Implementation Committee (HSGIC)

The Nepad HSGIC reports annually to the summit of the AU. The chairperson of the AU Commission is an ex-officio member of the Implementation Committee, and the AU Commission is expected to participate in steering committee meetings.

The Implementation Committee comprises 20 states (four per AU geographic region), including the five initiating states: South Africa, Nigeria, Algeria, Senegal and Egypt.

The main function of the Implementation Committee is to set policies, priorities and Nepad’s programme of action.

Steering Committee

The Steering Committee comprises representatives of the 20 HSGIC members. It is tasked with developing the Terms of Reference for identified programmes and projects, and overseeing the Secretariat.

Secretariat

The Nepad Secretariat co-ordinates imple mentation of projects and programmes approved by the HSGIC. The full-time core staff of the Secretariat, located at the Development Bank of Southern Africa in Midrand, provides liaison, co-ordination, and administrative and logistical functions for Nepad.

The AU’s mechanisms for peer review and conflict resolution reflect commitment to human rights, democratisation, good governance, and peace and security.

The African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) is the mutually agreed African instrument for self-monitoring by participating member states of the AU.

The APRM’s primary purpose is to foster the adoption of policies, standards and practices that lead to political stability, high economic growth, sustainable development and accelerated subregional and continental economic integration, by sharing experience and reinforcing successful and best practice, including identifying deficiencies and assessing the need for capacity-building.

The APRM is a flagship programme that has received international acclaim. By mid-2007, reviews had been completed in Ghana, Rwanda, Kenya, Algeria and South Africa, and 26 countries had acceded to the APRM. The APRM process is addressing corruption, poor governance and inefficient delivery of public goods and services.

In July 2007, President Thabo Mbeki presented South Africa’s response to the African Peer Review (APR) Panel’s Country Review Report at the seventh Summit of the APR Review Forum in Accra, Ghana.

The review report identified 18 South African best practices worthy of emulation. They included co-operative governance, popular participatory governance practices, Batho Pele, Thusong Service Centres (formerly multipurpose community centres), the highly consultative Budget-formulation process, achievements of the South African Revenue Service, the Johannesburg Securities Exchange and triple bottom line reporting, the Mzansi account for the unbanked, the Financial Services Charter, the King Commisson’s reports, self-reliance in development funding, provision of basic needs and socio-economic rights, and the successful promotion of gender equality in the public sector.

In September 2007, government, civil society and business convened for the National Workshop of the Programme of Action (PoA) of the APRM. The workshop, chaired by the Minister for Public Service and Administration, Ms Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi, outlined features of the country review report and the broad strategic thrust of the PoA. The key aims of the meeting were to map out how the PoA will be implemented and clarify the role of each stakeholder in the implementation phase.

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Southern Africa

Angola

After the ceasefire of 2002 in Angola, following decades of war, peace still prevails in that country. The signing of the ceasefire agreement ended one of Africa’s most protracted and devastating wars. The Memorandum of Commitment between the Angolan Government and the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola, which was signed on 26 August 2002, is regarded as a watershed in the road to peace and reconciliation. It was agreed then that elections would be held as soon as circumstances allowed it.

South Africa committed itself to assisting Angola with its post-conflict reconstruction projects and programmes. The first session of the Joint Commission of Co-operation (JCC) was held in Pretoria in February 2003. Subsequently, significant progress was made in identifying, negotiating and finalising numerous agreements.

Since the Angolan Government’s announcement that it intends holding presidential and general elections in 2008 and 2009 respectively, the South African Government has offered to provide technical assistance, if and when needed.

In May 2006, South Africa and the United Nations (UN) launched the Voluntary Repatriation for Angolan Refugees Programme to assist South Africa-based Angolan refugees in returning home.

In May 2007, a South African delegation visited Angola to prepare for an upcoming JCC meeting.

Lesotho

The ruling Lesotho Congress for Democracy won the National Assembly elections held on 17 February 2007.

In June 2007, President Mbeki hosted Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili of Lesotho on an official visit to Cape Town.

The most significant and visible beacon reflecting South Africa’s bilateral relations with Lesotho is the Lesotho Highlands Water Project (LHWP), which qualifies as a Nepad project.

The project was started in 1986 as a joint venture to supply water to South Africa, especially the rapidly growing urban population in Gauteng, and to meet Lesotho’s electricity needs. The project delivers about 780 million m³ of water to South Africa per year. By mid-2007, a feasibility study on Phase II of the LHWP was being undertaken to ascertain costs and benefits for the two countries.

South Africa and Lesotho agreed to engage in a strategic partnership to assist Lesotho in accelerating its economic development to raise its status from that of a least-developed country (LDC). For this purpose, South Africa and Lesotho signed the Joint Bilateral Commission of Co-operation (JBCC) agreement in April 2001.

The JBCC was renewed in April 2006. In addition to strategic areas of co-operation, the JBCC also promotes the process of consolidating relations between South Africa and Lesotho. Since 2001, there has been significant sectoral co-operation between the two countries.

Various projects have been identified and implemented, such as the hydrological project, whereby the South African Department of Water Affairs and Forestry is providing Lesotho with technical assistance and capacity-building to improve hydrological data’s quality and quantity by modernising data-collection equipment and network design.

Formal bilateral meetings under the auspices of the JBCC are held on a regular basis.

Botswana

Botswana’s relations with South Africa are cordial and the country is a close neighbour and ally of South Africa. Botswana’s long-standing support of the liberation struggle in South Africa led to the establishment of deep and strong mutual bonds between the peoples of the two countries.

In September 2007, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ms Sue van der Merwe, attended the 41st anniversary of the independence of Botswana.

The South Africa-Botswana Joint Permanent Commission for Co-operation strengthens the bilateral relations between the two countries. It provides a legal and institutional framework for close co-operation in various fields between the countries. Many bilateral agreements exist between South Africa and Botswana.

Malawi

Malawi is one of South Africa’s main trading partners in the southern African region, with the trade balance in South Africa’s favour.

South Africa-based companies increasingly interested in linking up with and establishing a presence in Malawi, range from the finance, telecommunications and the retail sectors, to those in the construction industry.

By March 2007, the Department of Public Works had commenced with the design and construction of an embassy in Malawi. An agreement on bilateral co-operation between South Africa and Malawi was signed in May 2007 by the ministers of foreign affairs of the respective countries.

Indian Ocean islands

South Africa’s political, economic and diplomatic relations with countries in the Indian Ocean islands remain strong.

South Africa, chair of the AU at the time, played a pivotal role in ensuring that peace prevailed in Madagascar, following political instability as a result of disputed election results in 2000.

It also played a meaningful role in accepting Madagascar’s candidature to the SADC in August 2004.

South Africa, as co-ordinator of the countries of the region under the aegis of the AU, assisted in diffusing constitutional and political tension, resulting in the Fomboni Peace Agreement in 2000.

South Africa spearheaded the process of peace-building and reconciliation, and the return to constitutionalism. It continues to play an important role in the post-conflict reconstruction and development processes. These include assistance in building institutions of governance, macroeconomic planning and development, and capacity-building in the area of police training and public-service sectors.

South Africa is also involved in strengthening political and economic bilateral relations with Mauritius and the Seychelles. Sectoral relations with these countries include arts and culture, tourism and environmental management, and poverty-alleviation programmes.

Comoros

On 19 June 2007, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, as chairperson of the AU Committee of Countries of the Region on Comoros, hosted a meeting of ministers from the Comoros, Tanzania, Seychelles, Mauritius, Madagascar, Kenya and Mozambique to discuss the situation in the Comoros.

Minister Dlamini Zuma convened the meeting, which was also attended by the Vice President of the Comoros and the AU Commissioner for Peace and Security, Ambassador Said Djinnit, within the context of the AU's priority to consolidate peace, security and national reconciliation in the Comoros.

Discussions at the meeting focused on the current political situation in the Comoros, in addition to the organisation of the island's presidential elections.

The meeting requested the authorities of Anjoun to hold a free and fair presidential election, in compliance with the AU security plan.

Mozambique

South Africa and Mozambique share co-operative and friendly political and economic relations, both in a bilateral and multilateral context. Mozambique’s economy continues to perform well and expectations are that the average growth rate of 7% that has been seen over the past 10 years will continue.

Mozambique remains South Africa’s second-largest export market in southern Africa. South Africa and Mozambique’s economic relationship is the strongest in the southern Africa region.

In May 2007, Cabinet approved the extention of the deployment of 70 South African National Defence Force (SANDF) members to Mozambique.

The deployment provided military assistance in the clearance and demolition of unexploded ordinance devices at the ammunition storage facility in Maputo, following an explosion at the facility in March 2007. The SANDF was expected to participate in the exercise until 15 July 2007.

In September 2007, President Mbeki and his counterpart, President Armondo Guebuza, co-chaired the South Africa-Mozambique Heads of State Economic Bilateral Commisssion in Pretoria.

The meeting and JPCC ensure the maintenance of sound political and economic relations between South Africa and Mozambique.

Forty agreements covering various spheres of co-operation have been entered into between the two countries. These include the Maputo Harbour, agricultural development, natural gas trade, de-mining, the Maputo Development Corridor, a joint water commission, promotion and reciprocal protection of investment, and custom administration.

Namibia

Co-operation in various areas marks the relationship between South Africa and Namibia.

The two governments often meet at high-level engagements such as the regular heads of state economic bilateral meetings. It focuses on joint economic co-operation projects such as spatial development initiatives, tourism, energy matters as well as matters related to the Southern African Customs Union (Sacu) and the SADC.

The Joint Commission on Defence and Security was established in terms of an agreement between South Africa and Namibia that was concluded in June 1997. The annual meeting aims to identify, discuss and promote co-operation regarding bilateral and regional issues of mutual interest in the fields of defence, state and public security.

In October 2007, President Mbeki co-chaired, together with his Namibian counterpart, President Hifikepunye Pohamba, the South Africa-Namibia Heads of State Economic Bilateral Meeting at the Presidential Guesthouse in Pretoria.

Swaziland

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr Dlamini Zuma, and her former Swaziland counterpart, Senator Mabili Dlamini, established the JBCC on 20 December 2004 in Swaziland, which formalised bilateral relations between the two countries.

Tanzania

Bilateral relations with Tanzania are cordial and progress is being made in a wide range of fields of mutual interest. Both countries have experienced similar constitutional developments and challenges, and they share similar views on multilateral issues. Trade between South Africa and Tanzania is steadily increasing and a number of exchanges have taken place at official level to enhance co-operation. Close co-operation takes place in a number of fields between the two countries, and memorandums of understanding (MoUs) and agreements on a wide variety of issues have been signed.

The Presidential Economic Commission provides the necessary co-operative framework to manage the development and implementation of bilateral projects.

On 5 April 2007, President Mbeki and his Tanzanian counterpart, President Jakaya Kikwete, co-chaired the South Africa-Tanzania Heads of State Economic Commission held in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania.

South Africa ranks as one of the top-10 countries investing in Tanzania and accounts for 10% of total investment in Tanzania. More than 100 South African companies are economically active in that country. The country rates as a premier investment destination with South African business.

According to the Tanzanian Investment Centre, as of December 2006, there were 111 South African companies investing in Tanzania. South African investments in Tanzania span a range of sectors.

Zambia

South Africa has established a deep mutual bond with Zambia, as evidenced by existing bilateral agreements and an annual increase in trade and investment flow between the two countries.

A senior officials meeting was held in February 2007 in Lusaka, Zambia, to lay the grounds for both ministerial and state visits.

In May 2007, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Mozambique agreed on sharing the tourism spin-offs of the 2010 FIFA World Cup^TM, through “border free” tourism packages.

In September 2007, the Zambian Government entered into talks with South Africa’s Ministry of Environmental Affairs and Tourism to look at how best the two countries can promote tourism ahead of the 2010 World Cup.

Uganda

Official diplomatic relations between South Africa and Uganda were established in 1994. In July 2007, Cabinet approved the deployment of five SANDF members to be part of the AU mission in northern Uganda as military observers until March 2008.

Kenya

Kenya underwent the APRM process in 2006. In July 2007, Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka addressed the Young Women Christian Association in Nairobi on the impact of HIV and AIDS on African women. She was participating in her capacity as chairperson of the South African National AIDS Council, which promotes the vision of an HIV- and AIDS-free Africa.

While in Kenya, the deputy president officially launched the South African Broadcasting Corporation’s East Africa Bureau.

Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe celebrated 27 years of independence on 18 April 2007.

Besides their geographical proximity, South Africa and Zimbabwe also have a common and long history of regional affiliation and cultural ties. The people of Zimbabwe also played an important role in supporting the liberation struggle against apartheid in South Africa.

Zimbabwe is experiencing political instability owing to the lack of progress in resolving political challenges between the Movement for Democratic Change and the ruling Zimbabwe African National Union Patriotic Front. Continuous isolation from Western countries is consistently exacerbating Zimbabwe’s socio-economic and political challenges.

South Africa’s engagement in Zimbabwe, within the AU and SADC context, is largely focused on encouraging an all-inclusive “party-to-party” dialogue between the main political role-players and encouraging them to find a home-grown solution as a basis for the challenges facing the country.

The relationship at government-to-government level between South Africa and Zimbabwe is cordial. At the close of the two-day extraordinary summit in Dar-Es-Salaam, Tanzania, in March 2007, the Heads of State and Government of the SADC mandated President Mbeki to spearhead the promotion of dialogue among political parties in Zimbabwe.

Ethiopia

Bilateral economic relations with Ethiopia were revived in 1995 when South Africa opened an embassy in Addis Ababa. The SANDF has been deployed in Ethiopia in support of the AU PSC.

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Development co-operation

South Africa is not a donor country, but development co-operation with countries in Africa is integral to the country’s foreign policy. Assistance is wide-ranging and includes educational visits by agriculturists, establishing viable training centres, conserving the environment, rendering medical assistance, and technology-exchange programmes. Technical and financial assistance aimed at capacity-building, especially to SADC countries, is a major instrument for promoting economic development, peace and stability, democracy, and the African Renaissance on a regional basis.

South Africa and the Southern African Development Community

South Africa’s vision for the southern African region involves the highest possible degree of economic co-operation, mutual assistance and joint planning consistent with socio-economic, environmental and political realities. Within the region, the SADC is the primary vehicle for South African policy and action to achieve regional economic development.

The SADC provides for regional peace and security, sectoral co-operation and an integrated regional economy. The SADC member states are Angola, Botswana, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, the Seychelles, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

The SADC is a critical vehicle for developing the southern African region. South Africa has been engaged in restructuring the SADC to enable it to execute evolving AU mandates and to respond to changing development challenges. Considerable work has gone into establishing new institutions and reviewing existing ones.

One of the organ’s main functions is to ensure that regional peace and security arrangements are linked to continental arrangements.

The SADC is South Africa's major trading partner after the European Union (EU). The value of South Africa's agricultural trade has grown by 44% over the past six years since the implementation of the free trade area (FTA).

Southern African Development Community Trade Protocol

The SADC Protocol on Trade entered into force on 25 January 2000. Its objectives are to further liberalise intraregional trade in goods and services, on the basis of fair, mutually equitable and beneficial trade arrangements; to ensure efficient production within the SADC, reflecting the current and dynamic comparative advantages of its members; to contribute to the improvement of a climate for domestic, cross-border and foreign direct investment (FDI); to enhance the economic development, diversification and industrialisation of the region; and to establish an FTA in the SADC region.

At the core of this agreement is the reduction and ultimate elimination of tariff and non-tariff barriers, and the setting up of rules of origin by 2008.

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Relations with central Africa

South Africa continued to strengthen its bilateral relations with the countries in the central African region during 2006/07. The embassies in Cameroon, Gabon, Congo and Equatorial Guinea are fully staffed and officials represent South Africa in Chad and São Tomé and Principe. An honorary consul has been appointed in the Central African Republic (CAR) to assist with South Africa’s programmes in that country.

Gabon

Diplomatic relations between South Africa and Gabon were established in 1992. A legal framework was created through the signing of a co-operation agreement, and further agreements were signed during the State Visit of President Mbeki to Gabon in August 2005.

A co-operation agreement on defence was signed in August 2006, bringing the number of bilateral agreements between the two countries to 10.

São Tomé and Principe

Diplomatic relations between São Tomé and Principe and South Africa were established in May 1994. By mid-2007, South Africa operated a satellite office in São Tomé and Principe under the accreditation of the embassy in Libreville, Gabon.

A general co-operation agreement between São Tomé and Principe and South Africa was signed in 2005 during the visit of Minister Dlamini Zuma to that country. Among other things, the agreement provides for the provision of technical assistance to members of the Public Service of that country.

Congo

South Africa opened an embassy in Brazzaville in Congo in 2005. President Mbeki visited Congo at the end of 2005, during which several agreements were signed.

Equatorial Guinea

Full diplomatic relations between Equatorial Guinea and South Africa were established in May 1993. The two countries have since signed three bilateral agreements. By mid-2007, plans were under way to establish a JCC. The South African oil company, Petro-SA, is involved in oil-exploration activities in that country.

Cameroon

During 2006, South Africa and Cameroon signed a general co-operation agreement, a trade agreement and an MoU on economic co-operation.

These agreements set the framework for the strengthening of relations and business activity between the two countries.

With its population of over 16 million, infrastructure, economy, strategic location on the Gulf of Guinea and its membership of both the Commonwealth and the Francophonie, Cameroon can be regarded as a stabilising factor in the central African region.

It exports agricultural products to its neighbours and plays a role as outlet to the sea to its landlocked neighbours of Chad and the CAR. Cameroon is an active participant in the PAP and Nepad and is an important member of the Central African Economic and Monetary Community.

In May 2007, South Africa sent a team of six pathologists to Douala, Cameroon, to help identify victims of a Kenya Airlines crash that killed 114 passengers and crew members. The pathologists assisted the Cameroonian and Kenyan authorities with victim verification.

Central African Republic

In April 2006, President Mbeki invited his counterpart from the CAR, President Francois Bozize, on a working visit to South Africa. During the visit, a framework co-operation agreement was signed, providing the basis for future co-operation.

The Minister of Defence, Mr Mosiuoa Lekota, visited the CAR in May and December 2006 to further strengthen relations between the two countries. During a second working visit of President Bozize in February 2007, an MoU on defence co-operation was signed.

By mid-2007, the South African High Commissioner in Cameroon was responsible for relations with the CAR.

The economy of the CAR is in a poor state, after many years of internal political instability. The AU has appealed for assistance for the Multinational Force of the Central African Economic and Monetary Community in the CAR, and for the restructuring of the armed forces of the Central African Army.

Financial and economic assistance from bilateral and multilateral partners will also be necessary to ensure that stability is maintained.

In 2006/07, the SANDF provided support to the CAR in repelling attacks from northern rebels seeking to overthrow the democratically elected government.

In September 2007, South Africa’s Cabinet approved the deployment of 85 SANDF members to assist with the capacity-building of that country’s defence force.

Chad

The new South African Embassy in Chad was expected to become fully functional during the course of 2007. The Chadian Government is planning to open an embassy in Pretoria in the near future.

There is an increasing flow of businesspeople between South Africa and Chad, and a delegation of senior government officials travelled to Chad in 2006 to discuss the implementation of the General Co-operation Agreement between the two countries.

By mid-2007, there was interaction between the two governments on the volatile situation in the east of Chad, where more than 200 000 refugees from the Darfur region of Sudan were being sheltered.

Rwanda

Full diplomatic relations were established between South Africa and Rwanda in May 1995. The two countries maintain good political relations. Their cooperation focuses on the post-conflict reconstruction of Rwanda and has extended to the co-ordination of Nepad on the continent.

To further strengthen this bilateral structure, the Implementation Monitoring Committee has been established at director-general level to provide the necessary co-ordinating, planning and monitoring framework to manage effective implementation of approved programmes, and to ensure the delivery of cross-cutting training and human-resource (HR) capacity-building programmes.

In 2006, Rwanda underwent the APRM process.

Burundi

South Africa’s good relations with Burundi are demonstrated by the leading role the Government played in the Arusha Peace and Reconciliation Agreement signed by representatives of the main Hutu and Tutsi political parties, the Government of Burundi, and the National Assembly on 28 August 2000.

The agreement provided the foundation for the transition to democracy, peace and development in that country. South African diplomacy efforts, under the leadership of former President Nelson Mandela, were central in facilitating the Arusha Agreement. The pivotal point of the agreement was the political power-sharing between the Tutsis and the Hutus.

Burundi held its first democratic election since 1993 on 4 July 2005. The 21-member South African observer mission concluded that the elections were executed in a transparent manner.

South Africa’s contribution towards the establishment of peace and stability in Burundi included the deployment of SANDF troops, with an African peace mission in Burundi, now recapped as the UN Operation in Burundi.

South Africa supported the election process financially by providing election material for the 2005 referendum and election.

In September 2006, President Mbeki attended the signing of a cease-fire agreement between the Government of Burundi and the Palepehutu-FNL.

South Africa has committed itself to working with the regional leadership, the Government and the people of Burundi, including the leadership of the Palepehutu-FNL, in finding a long-lasting solution to their current challenges.

Democratic Republic of Congo

The DRC has made remarkable progress and presents real opportunities for intraregional economic co-operation, foreign direct investment (FDI) and sustained growth and development. However, cycles of conflict have severely undermined both African and foreign-investor confidence, further weakened indigenous economic development, and increased dependence on foreign loans and assistance.

South Africa is fully committed to continued engagement with the DRC, and to assisting the new democratically elected government with its consolidation of democracy, in line with its foreign-policy objectives. South Africa has also committed to providing ongoing assistance to the new Government to reform the DRC’s economy, and is supporting measures to encourage a predictable and stable economic environment to unlock investment and trade opportunities between the two countries.

During 2006, South Africa rendered extensive support for the election process. It deployed a 108person election observer mission in the DRC during the general and presidential elections in July 2006, and for the second round of the presidential election in October 2006.The Department of Foreign Affairs is continuing with a comprehensive capacity-building project for the DRC’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation.

By mid-2007, the Department of Public Service and Administration had completed the Public Service census in Kinshasa and was proceeding with the capturing of data from the Bandundu and Bas-Congo provinces. The department also runs an anticorruption project for the DRC’s public officials.

The presidential BNC between South Africa and the DRC provides a legal framework to manage the numerous post-conflict reconstruction and development projects in that country.

In June 2007, President Mbeki hosted his counterpart from the DRC, President Joseph Kabila, for bilateral talks. Presidents Mbeki and Kabila cochaired the fourth session of the South Africa-DRC BNC, held in Kinshasa on 21 August 2007.

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Relations with North and West Africa and the Horn of Africa

During 2006/07, South Africa expanded and consolidated its bilateral relations with the region.

The following key performance areas were achieved in the region:

• promoting the African Agenda in North Africa
• strengthening AU structures in the region
• contributing towards peace, stability, security and democracy in North Africa
• consolidating and enhancing strategic and structured bilateral relationships with the countries of North Africa
• economic diplomacy and tourism promotion
• promoting public diplomacy
• promoting South-South and North-South agendas.

Algeria

Algeria remains South Africa’s strategic partner in North Africa. Synergy at the executive level in terms of the AU and Nepad has resulted in a presidential BNC. Bilateral trade and economic links have developed steadily. South Africa’s economic reach to Algeria includes possible involvement in the energy (hydrocarbons) sector.

South Africa has continued its co-operation with three important AU institutions based in Algiers, namely the Centre for the Study and Research on Terrorism, the African Energy Commission and the Pan-African Youth Union.

Bilateral trade between the two countries amounted to R1,1 billion in 2006. South African exports to Algeria totalled R1,1 billion, while imports from Algeria amounted to R7,9 million.

Since the establishment of the presidential BNC in 1998, 24 co-operation agreements have been signed. By mid-2007, a solid legal framework existed and additional agreements were being negotiated.

In 2006, Algeria underwent the APRM process. In July 2007, Algeria hosted the ninth All Africa Games.

The third meeting of the Algeria-South Africa Joint Committee on Science and Technology took place in February 2007.

During the visit, concrete progress was recorded in the co-operation areas of microsatellite applications, radiation sciences, laser technology, agriculture and poverty alleviation.

Côte d'Ivoire

South Africa established full diplomatic relations with Côte d’Ivoire in May 1992. Given its firm commitment to the African Renaissance and its attendant features of stability, democratisation and development on the continent, South Africa will continue to promote the restoration of peace and stability in Côte d’Ivoire.

In this regard, South Africa’s mediation efforts, under the auspices of the AU, culminated in the signing of the Pretoria Agreement in April 2005.

South Africa continues to support peace efforts in Côte d’Ivoire. The South African Government welcomed the “flame of peace” ceremony, held in July 2007 to officially launch the disarmament process by setting fire to weapons handed over by rebels. A brigade of the 37th Battalion in Yamassoukro was named after President Mbeki, to mark the role played by South Africa in general, and the president in particular, in bringing about a resolution to the crisis in Côte d'Ivoire.

Egypt

South Africa and Egypt continue to enjoy cordial bilateral relations. In 2006/07, the following significant developments took place:

• Petro SA was awarded an oil-exploration permit in the Suez basin.
• The mid-term review by senior officials of the JBC was held in November 2006 in South Africa. This review confirmed the cordial bilateral relations between the two countries.
• South Africa and Egypt co-ordinated their positions in International Atomic Energy Agency meetings on non-proliferation in the Middle East.
• Regular sport and cultural exchanges.

Sudan

President Mbeki paid a working visit to Khartoum and Juba in Sudan in April 2007.

His discussions with his Sudanese counterpart, President Omar el-Bashir, and First Vice President, Mr Salva Kiir, took place within the context of South Africa's priority to encourage the full implementation of the AU-United Nations (UN) agreement on the hybrid force for Darfur and the Comprehensive Peace Agreement between the North and the South.

In August 2007, the UN and AU convened Darfur peace talks in Arusha, Tanzania.

Morocco

Bilateral relations between South Africa and Morocco remain cordial, but are influenced by South Africa’s recognition of the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR), which took place in 2004, as well as South Africa’s principled stand on the issues of decolonisation and self-determination in relation to the illegal occupation of Western Sahara.

Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic

The issue of the illegal occupation of Western Sahara remains a foreign-policy priority for South Africa, especially in terms of the sanctity of colonial borders and the recognition of the Saharawi people’s right for self-determination. The following developments are relevant:

• To strengthen international co-operation, South Africa attended the International Conference of Solidarity with the Saharawi People on the occasion of the commemoration of the 31st anniversary of the proclamation of the SADR, held in Tifariti from 24 February to 1 March 2007. Officials also participated in the 32nd annual European Conference for Co-ordinating Support for the Saharawi People, held in Spain in November 2006.
• In July 2006, the South African Government hosted Aminatou Haidar, renowned Saharawi human-rights activist. In November 2006, the Department of Foreign Affairs also co-hosted a human-rights seminar on the situation in the illegally occupied territory of Western Sahara in co-operation with the South African Human Rights Commission.
• In July 2006, the department hosted the Saharawi Minister and Chief Negotiator, Mr Mohamed Khadad, and the Minister for International Co-operation, Mr Salek Baba. Mr Khadad again visited South Africa at the end of 2006 to conduct political consultations.
• The department facilitated and continued its humanitarian-assistance funding for the SADR through the African Renaissance Fund.

Mauritania

During 2006/07, South Africa expanded the bilateral legal framework between the two countries and supported the implementation of the democratic roadmap undertaken by the military transitional government following the coup d’état of August 2005.

South Africa also supported the lifting of the AU suspension of the country on 10 April 2007. In this regard, South Africa participated in the constitutional referendum in June 2006, legislative and municipal elections in December 2006 and presidential elections in March 2007, as part of the AU Observer Mission for Mauritania.

The Islamic Republic of Mauritania opened a resident diplomatic mission in South Africa during 2006.

Liberia

Africa’s first female head of state, Liberian President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, was inaugurated in Monrovia on 16 January 2006.

In March 2007, Cabinet approved a request from the African Development Bank (ADB) for South Africa to contribute to clearing Liberia's unpaid debt to the bank. The Liberian economy deteriorated following the civil war in 1989. However, since the election of President Johnson-Sirleaf, the economy has shown signs of recovery, with real gross domestic product (GDP) growth of 5,3% in 2005 and a projected growth of 7,7% in 2006/07.

South Africa was expected to provide US$3,6 million (about R26,28 million), amounting to 6,25% of the amount requested from bilateral donors, as the country’s contribution to the clearance of Liberia's unpaid debt to the ADB.

Nigeria

Diplomatic relations between South Africa and Nigeria were established in 1994.

The two counties maintain good bilateral relations. The BNC, established in 1999, provides a framework through which these relations are solidified. The two countries have signed bilateral agreements in the following areas: trade, minerals and energy, agriculture, education, defence, police matters, arts and culture, science and technology, transport, sports and recreation, health, public enterprises, immigration, communications and justice.

Nigeria is one of South Africa’s largest trading partners on the African continent. In May 2007, President Mbeki attended the inauguration of President Umaru Yar'Adua.

Ghana

Diplomatic relations were established between Ghana and South Africa in 1994.

South Africa and Ghana maintain good bilateral relations. President Mbeki visited Accra on 6 March 2007 to participate in celebrations marking Ghana’s 50th anniversary of independence. This is of particular significance as Ghana was the first sub-Saharan country on the continent to gain its independence.

South Africa and Ghana have agreements in the following areas: mining, defence, taxation, investment and aviation. A number of technical exchanges took place between South Africa and Ghana in 2006, including in the fields of defence and aviation.

In April 2007, Ghana’s Vice-President, Mr Alhaji Aliu Mahama, visited South Africa on official business. He paid a courtesy visit to his South Africa counterpart, Deputy President Mlambo-Ngcuka.

In May 2007, Minister Dlamini Zuma and her counterpart, Ms Nana Addo Dakwa Akufo-Addo, cochaired the inaugural session of the Permanent JCC in Pretoria. The meeting followed a bilateral meeting between presidents Mbeki and Kufuor in Pretoria in May 2007.

Burkina Faso

South Africa and Burkina Faso established nonresident diplomatic relations in May 1995. In 2006, South Africa established a diplomatic mission in Burkina Faso.

Although Burkina Faso has limited exploitable resources, opportunities exist for South African mining companies to mine gold, zinc and manganese. Since agriculture is the dominant industry, opportunities exist for the trade of various agricultural products. Spoornet is one of the few large South African companies involved in Burkina Faso. Trade between the two countries is limited. In terms of total trade with South Africa, Burkina Faso is South Africa’s 11th-largest partner in the West African region.

In April 2007, Dr Dlamini Zuma hosted the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Cooperation, Mr Youssouf Ouedraogo, for bilateral political and economic discussions.

They signed the agreement to establish the South Africa-Burkina Faso JCC. They also welcomed the decision of both governments to open diplomatic missions in their respective capitals. Burkina Faso is the current chair of the Ecowas and helped broker the Ivorian Political Accord in Ouagadougou in March 2007.

Benin

Diplomatic relations were established between Benin and South Africa in May 1994. South Africa and Benin maintain good bilateral relations. The two counties signed a general co-operation agreement in October 2003. They have, among other things, identified the following areas of co-operation: agriculture, arts and culture, and justice.

President Mbeki visited Benin in March 2007 to further consolidate relations. An embassy was opened in Cotonou in February 2007. Benin opened an embassy in Pretoria in 1999.

Republic of Togo

Diplomatic relations between South Africa and Togo were established in 1997. South Africa and Togo maintain good bilateral relations.

By mid-2007, economic relations were still limited. Phosphates comprise the bulk of South African imports from Togo. The South African Ambassador to Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, is accredited on a non-residential basis to Togo.

Cape Verde

South Africa and Cape Verde established diplomatic relations in 1994. South Africa’s ambassador to Senegal is also accredited as South Africa’s nonresident ambassador to Cape Verde, while the Cape Verdean Ambassador to Angola is accredited to South Africa as non-resident ambassador.

The Gambia

Full diplomatic relations between South Africa and The Gambia were established in August 1998. While South Africa’s ambassador to Senegal is accredited to The Gambia as non-resident ambassador, the Gambian Ambassador to the AU in Addis Ababa is accredited to South Africa as this country’s non-resident ambassador.

Guinea

Diplomatic relations were established with the Republic of Guinea in 1995. South Africa opened a diplomatic mission in Conakry in November 2005.

In March 2007, Minister Dlamini Zuma held bilateral political and economic discussions with her counterpart from Guinea, Mr Mamadou Conte.

Guinea-Bissau

Diplomatic relations between South Africa and Guinea-Bissau were established in October 1994. The South African Ambassador to Senegal is accredited as South Africa’s non-resident ambassador to Guinea-Bissau. In August 2007, Prime Minister Martinho Dafa Cabi visited South Africa. South Africa has since decided to open an embassy in Guinea Bissau.

Mali

Full diplomatic relations between South Africa and Mali were established in 1994. The latter established an embassy in Pretoria in December 1995. A South African embassy was established in Bamako in November 2002, and the first South African Ambassador to Mali was appointed in November 2003.

Mali is a strong supporter of the African Renaissance initiative and Nepad. In August 2002, the Agreement on the Preservation of the Ancient Manuscripts in the Ahmed Baba Institute of Higher Learning and Islamic Research in Timbuktu was concluded between the two countries.

South Africa is supporting a project aimed at improving the preservation of these ancient manuscripts. They vary in content from religious treatises and poems, to documentary letters dealing with legal and commercial matters, while others relate to slavery, mathematics, astronomy, medicine and history – all of them subjects of immense interest to scholars and the African population at large. Three major objectives of the project are to:

• implement a conservation programme to protect and improve environmental storage conditions for the manuscripts
• rebuild the Ahmed Baba Centre to one of international stature while ensuring its architectural harmony with ancient Timbuktu
• promote academic study and public awareness of the magnificent and ancient African and Islamic heritage at Timbuktu.

The two countries are committed to promoting democracy and good governance, and there is substantial South African involvement in the Malian gold-mining sector. Anglogold and Randgold run operations in Mali. The first session of the South Africa-Mali JCC took place in Pretoria in August 2004.

Senegal

Full diplomatic relations between South Africa and Senegal were established in May 1994 and the two countries’ representative offices were upgraded to embassy level. Bilateral relations between South Africa and Senegal are based mainly on the Senegalese Government’s strong support for the African Renaissance initiative and Nepad, and its strong commitment to promoting democracy and good governance.

In March 2007, President Mbeki congratulated President Abdoulaye Wade on his successful re-election as the President of Senegal, during the presidential elections held in February 2007.

Tunisia

Bilateral relations between South Africa and Tunisia are characterised by a substantial reservoir of goodwill towards expanding relations, including closer economic and trade ties. During 2006/07, the following developments were noted:

• The inaugural Joint Military Committee between South Africa and Tunisia was conducted in Cape Town.
• A Tunisian ophthalmology team visited South Africa and rendered voluntary eye-care treatments to communities in the Eastern Cape.
• The fourth session of the South Africa-Tunisia Business Forum took place in Pretoria in May 2006. The Tunisian Minister of Trade and Handicrafts, Mr Slaheddine Makhlouf, held discussions with the Minister of Trade and Industry, Mr Mandisi Mpahlwa.
• In October 2006, South Africa’s first lady, Mrs Zanele Mbeki, visited Tunisia to investigate the country’s successful poverty-alleviation programmes.

Libya

Bilateral relations between Libya and South Africa remain cordial. During 2006/07, the following significant developments occurred:

• Libya’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Mr Abd-al-Rahman Mohamed Shalgham, visited South Africa in November 2006. The JBC between the two countries has been elevated to the level of deputy president.
• President Mbeki received special envoys from Libya pertaining to African and AU issues.

Sierra Leone

South Africa and Sierra Leone established diplomatic relations in 1998. The South African Ambassador in Côte d’Ivoire was accredited to Sierra Leone in December 2002.

Although the country remains poor, various accomplishments towards promoting democracy and development have been achieved. In September 2007, President Mbeki congratulated President Ernest Bai Koroma on his successful election as the President of Sierra Leone.

Niger

Diplomatic relations were established between Niger and South Africa in May 1994. South Africa and Niger maintain good bilateral relations.

In July 2006, President Mbeki paid a state visit to Niamey, during which various fields of co-operation were identified, such as agriculture, mining and transport. Priority projects will be in the fields of milk pasteurisation and meat production.

Ms Aichatou Mindaoudou, Niger’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Co-operation and African Integration, paid an official visit to South Africa in April 2007. During their discussions they reviewed the state of bilateral relations; and regional, African and international issues.

South Africa is represented in Niger on a nonresidential basis by its ambassador in Côte d’Ivoire. Niger is represented in South Africa by its ambassador in Ethiopia.

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Relations with Asia and the Middle East

Asia and Australasia

East Asia

South Africa’s bilateral relationship with Japan has expanded across a wide spectrum and is strengthened with regular interaction between the two countries under the auspices of the bilateral Partnership Forum.

The forum was upgraded to the level of ministers of foreign affairs at the end of 2006, when Minister Dlamini Zuma paid an official visit to Japan at the invitation of Japanese Foreign Affairs Minister, Mr Taro Aso.

The Partnership Forum provides a framework within which both countries are able to continuously work towards strengthening, developing and broadening relations to the mutual benefit of both countries. Discussions are held over a wide spectrum of areas.

The exchanges in the fields of science and technology constitute a priority bilateral sector and are aimed at extending such initiatives to the benefit of the region at large.

A first exploratory meeting between South African and Japanese universities was expected to be held in 2007 at the University of Hiroshima, with a view to formally establishing the Japan-South Africa University Forum in 2008.

The Government of Japan has provided substantial assistance to the Accelerated and Shared Growth Initiative for South Africa (AsgiSA) and the Joint Initiative for Priority Skills Acquisition (Jipsa). Japan established the Japanese Jipsa Working Group in Tokyo in December 2006, which mobilises Japanese stakeholders from across the spectrum (public, private and civil-society institutions) to assist with HR capacity-building.

Japan became South Africa’s number-one export partner in 2005, followed by the United Kingdom (UK), United States of America (USA) and Germany. It is South Africa’s fourth-largest import partner after Germany, the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and the USA. In the past decade, South Africa has consolidated its position as Japan’s most important trading partner in Africa. Exports to Japan increased since 1992 from R4 billion to about R41,3 billion by the end of 2006, while imports from Japan in same period increased from R5 billion to R30,2 billion.

South Africa exports primary products such as base metals, agricultural products and manufactured goods to Japan while importing technology-intensive goods from Japan.

Two of the major Japanese automotive assemblers produce selected models in South Africa for world supply. The increase in production of vehicle exports from South Africa has encouraged further opportunities for investment in the automotive component sector. The Japan-South Africa Business Forum was created to facilitate business relations between the respective countries and meets biannually.

The Koreas

Deputy President Mlambo-Ngcuka visited the Republic of Korea (South Korea) in May 2007 at the invitation of the Prime Minister, Mr Han Duck Soo. The visit aimed to enhance bilateral relations between the two countries and to engage the Republic of Korea on AsgiSA and Jipsa and the contribution they can make to these programmes.

An extradition agreement and an agreement on mutual legal assistance in criminal matters cooperation were signed. South Korea is South Africa’s fourth-largest trading partner in Asia and South Africa is Korea's largest trading partner in Africa.

Cultural and tourism links between the two countries are also becoming stronger. The number of Koreans studying in South Africa has increased significantly in the past decade. Each year, many Korean students travel to South Africa as analternative destination for English-language training.

Relations between South Africa and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea) are cordial. In March 2007, the two countries celebrated five years of the establishment of diplomatic relations. By mid-2007, conclusion of agreements on sport and culture between the two countries was under consideration.

Greater China

South Africa’s bilateral relations with the PRC aim at advancing South Africa’s bilateral, regional, trilateral and multilateral agendas. South Africa and the PRC share many of the same social and developmental challenges, including those induced by globalisation and historic inequity.

South Africa adopted the “One China” Policy in December 1997 and full diplomatic relations with the PRC in January 1998. Emphasising the strategic importance of these relations was the signing of the Pretoria Declaration on Partnership in April 2000 and the Programme for Deepening Strategic Partnership in June 2006. A BNC was established in 2002, the third session of which was scheduled to be held in Beijing during 2007.

During November 2006, President Mbeki concluded a state visit to the PRC.

Premier Wen Jiabao and President Hu Jintao visited South Africa in June 2006 and February 2007, respectively. At the conclusion of his visit, President Hu Jintao announced support for South Africa’s AsgiSA and Jipsa by donating funds for setting up a vocational and an agricultural technology co-operation centre.

On 20 May 2007, Minister Dlamini Zuma held a bilateral meeting with her Chinese counterpart, Minister Yang Jiechi, in Beijing.

In September 2007, Deputy President Mlambo-Ngcuka visited the PRC.

South Africa is China's key trade partner in Africa, accounting for nearly 21% of the total volume of China-Africa trade. In 2006, South African exports amounted to nearly R14,02 billion, with imports reaching R46,72 billion. In 2006, China became South Africa’s second-largest import trading partner, and sixth-largest export partner. Total trade between South Africa and the Greater China region (PRC, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan) reached a massive R80,52 billion during 2006. South African exports in 2006 amounted to R23,54 billion, while South African imports from the region amounted to R56,98 billion.

The Forum on China-Africa Co-operation (FOCAC) was initiated in October 2000 as the chief instrument of engagement between the PRC and Africa. In January 2006, the PRC released a policy document on Africa that clearly spelled out its policy of engagement with Africa. In the November 2006 FOCAC Beijing Declaration, the PRC and Africa committed themselves to handle issues and challenges that may arise in the course of cooperation through friendly consultation in keeping with the China-Africa friendship and the long-term interests of the two sides.

China and Africa adopted the sector-specific Beijing Action Plan (2007 – 2009), based on the shared imperative to “promote friendship, peace, co-operation and development”, and to “advance the new type of strategic partnership between China and Africa” in keeping with the FOCAC Beijing Declaration.

President Hu Jintao announced that the PRC would, among other things, in the next three years:

• double its 2006 development assistance to Africa
• provide preferential credit to Africa worth US$5 billion over the next three years
• establish a US$5-billion development fund to encourage Chinese companies to invest in Africa
• cancel all interest-free government debt owed to the PRC by Africa's highly indebted countries and LDCs that have diplomatic relations with China
• radically open up the Chinese market to products from Africa’s LDCs by removing all tariffs on 440 products, helping to train at least 15 000 African professionals, providing general scholarships for 4 000 African students to study in China, building rural schools in Africa, deploying agricultural experts in Africa and opening special agricultural technology centres in Africa.

Trade between the PRC and Africa reached $55,5 billion in 2006, representing an increase of 40% year on year.

The PRC exported US$26,7 billion to Africa, an increase of 43% over the previous year, while the PRC imported goods worth US$28,8 billion from Africa, up 37%.

According to trade analysts, trade between China and Africa could reach US$110 billion in the near future. The PRC is now Africa’s third-largest commercial partner after the USA and France, and second-largest exporter to Africa after France.

Despite the absence of diplomatic relations, South Africa and Taiwan maintain vibrant trade, scientific, cultural and other relations, with representative offices in the respective capitals. Taiwanese investors in South Africa continue to enjoy full protection under South African law, and all the other benefits extended to foreign investors. Taiwan has 600 companies active in the South African economy, employing about 45 000 people.

South Asia

South Africa and Afghanistan established diplomatic relations in September 1994. South Africa never recognised the former Taliban regime and has normalised relations with the current Government. The South Africa Liaison Office for Afghanistan was established in 2003, headed non-residentially by the South African High Commissioner to Pakistan.

South Africa and Sri Lanka established diplomatic relations in 1994. In April 2007, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Aziz Pahad, hosted a senior Sri Lankan delegation in Pretoria for discussions aimed at sharing South Africa’s constitutional experiences. The Sri Lankan delegation comprised the Minister of Social Services and Social Welfare, Mr Douglas Devananda, and the leader of the Tamil United Liberation Front, Mr Veerasingham Anandasangaree.

Deputy Minister Pahad hosted this delegation within the framework of South Africa’s Road Map of Engagement with the broad leadership of Sri Lanka, with a view to address conflict resolution in that country. The Road Map aims to support the Norwegian-led facilitation team to promote dialogue and seek ways to return to peace negotiations.

The India-Brazil-South Africa (IBSA) Dialogue Forum, established in 2004, remains of strategic importance to all three countries as a powerful global forum to drive South-South co-operation, the agenda of the South, and to champion the needs of the developing world.

The fourth meeting of the trilateral commission of the IBSA Dialogue Forum took place in July 2007 in New Delhi. Minister Dlamini Zuma also held bilateral talks with her Indian and Brazilian counterparts. The second IBSA Summit took place in October 2007.

In August 2007, President Mbeki addressed the India Calling 2007: India-South Africa Business Conclave in Johannesburg. The conclave aimed to promote the two countries as attractive investment destinations and highlight unlimited business opportunities in both countries.

India is among the top-10 investing countries in South Africa, with investment estimated at R10 billion.

Diplomatic relations between South Africa and Pakistan were established in April 1994. A letter of understanding, establishing a joint commission (JC) between the two countries, was signed in 1999. The lifting of the Commonwealth suspensions that had been imposed on Pakistan paved the way for the normalisation of South Africa’s relations with that country, and created the opportunity to engage on issues of mutual interest.

The first session of the South Africa-Pakistan Bilateral JC was held in Islamabad in March 2007.

Several South African and Indian businesses belong to the Indo-South Africa CEOs Business Forum that was established in 2004 to help stimulate trade and investment between the two countries.

The existence of opportunities for closer cooperation between South Africa and India have been identified in the capital equipment; agro-processed products; autos and components; services; information and communications technology (ICT), science and technology; health; and small, medium and micro-enterprise (SMME) sectors.

South-east Asia

The Association of South-East Asian Nations (Asean) has emerged as one of the most important groupings within the Asia Pacific region. South Africa maintains embassies and high commissions in six of the 10 member states of Asean – Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and the Philippines. These Asean states and Myanmar (Burma) also maintain embassies and high commissions in South Africa.

In April 2007, President Mbeki hosted his Singaporean counterpart, President Sellapan Ramanathan, the first Singaporean Head of State on a state visit to South Africa.

Singapore is an important member of the Indian Ocean Rim (IOR) of which South Africa is a member. Singapore has also played a leading role in formulating the NAASP. This partnership mandated all Asian and African countries to give expression to their political relations by expanding trade and economic relations.

Vietnam plays an increasingly important role in south-east Asia and has vast economic potential and opportunities for mining, infrastructure development, and agricultural and manufacturing companies.

President Mbeki paid a state visit to Hanoi, Vietnam, in May 2007; the first since 1994.

South Africa believes that there is large potential for economic relations and especially for the private sector to take up business opportunities in Vietnam. There are many long-term trade and investment opportunities for South African companies in that country. Economic relations with Malaysia and Indonesia remain important, due to Malaysian investment in South Africa and the size of the Indonesian market.

Malaysia has indicated its support for Nepad and has sought to promote the Malaysian-initiated Langkawi International Dialogue aimed at expanding co-operation among countries of the South, including those in southern Africa.

Central Asia

The economies of Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan are all at various stages of change and development. Furthermore, all five are developing states and, like South Africa, seek investment.

Economic opportunities for South Africa in the Central Asian states include infrastructure development, mining technology, energy exploitation and related mining and engineering technology, agroprocessing expertise and exports, water-management expertise, and infrastructure for adventure and ecotourism.

Australasia and the Pacific islands

South Africa and Australia established diplomatic relations in 1947 and enjoy very close political and economic ties. As campaigns for international isolation of South Africa intensified in the 1970s and 1980s, successive Australian governments placed Australia firmly in the anti-apartheid camp, supporting UN resolutions against apartheid and implementing the oil, trade and arms embargo as well as a sports boycott against South Africa.

New Zealand maintains a high commission in Pretoria, while the High Commission in Canberra represents South Africa in New Zealand.

Since 1994, political, economic and social links between the two countries have improved significantly. In 1996, the Cape Town Communique was signed, seeking to strengthen co-operation between South Africa and New Zealand.

The political relationship has been further strengthened through visits by numerous high-level delegations to New Zealand to gain expertise in their different fields and to exchange knowledge to enhance capacity-building in central, provincial and local-government structures.

South Africa and New Zealand enjoy wide-ranging multilateral relations. Both are members of the Valdivia Group, which aims to promote southern hemisphere views in international environmental meetings and enhance scientific co-operation.

They enjoy a close working relationship within the context of the Antarctic Treaty and Indian Ocean fisheries, and also interact within the context of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and the Cairns Group.

South Africa and New Zealand also work closely on Commonwealth issues, particularly those affecting Africa. The South African Government wants to strengthen relations with the Pacific islands. The roving Ambassador to the Pacific islands has been accredited to the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, the Fiji islands and the Solomon Islands.

The High Commissioner in Canberra, Australia, has been accredited to the Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of Marshall Islands, the Republic of Vanuatu and the Independent State of Samoa.

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The Middle East

In the Middle East, the Department of Foreign Affairs distinguishes between two clearly identifiable subregions. On the one hand, there is the Levant, which comprises Israel, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine and Syria; and on the other is the Arabian/Persian Gulf Region, comprising the member states of the Gulf Co-operation Council, namely Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Iran and Yemen.

The Middle East is an important economic region as it occupies a unique geopolitical position in the tricontinental hub of Europe, Asia and Africa.

It is the source of 67% of the world’s petroleum reserves and commands two of the most strategically important waterways in the world, namely the Arabian/Persian Gulf and the Red Sea, giving access to the Asian hinterland via the Gulf of Aqaba. South Africa places strong emphasis on the expansion of diplomatic representation and activities in this region, where it was formerly underrepresented, particularly in the area of trade, which has grown significantly since 1994.

The South African Consulate General in Jeddah, in addition to performing important functions relating to the promotion of trade, also serves members of the South African Muslim community on their annual pilgrimage to Mecca. More than 7 000 South Africans embark on the Hajj pilgrimage each year.

South Africa supports a just, equitable and comprehensive peace process in the Middle East and an end to the illegal occupation of land that has led to conflict and violence between the peoples of the region. Peace and security for the Israelis and the Palestinians cannot be achieved without the fulfilment of the inalienable right of the Palestinian people to self-determination within their own sovereign state.

South Africa has continued to call on all parties to the conflict in Israel and Palestine to avoid actions that could add to an already volatile situation. The country has been consistent in calling for the immediate implementation of the Road Map, without preconditions, to achieve comprehensive and lasting peace between Israel and Palestine.

In January 2007, Deputy Minister Pahad hosted his Syrian counterpart, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr Faisal Mikdad, in Pretoria for discussions.

In May 2007, Deputy President Mlambo-Ngcuka attended a meeting with ambassadors of the Gulf states.

The meeting discussed, among other things, second-economy interventions, AsgiSA, Jipsa , and related trade and investment opportunities.

In March 2007, Deputy Minister Pahad visited Qatar and Iran.

In Iran, Mr Pahad led a senior South African delegation to the seventh Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Co-operation (IOR-ARC) Ministerial Meeting. The IOR-ARC is a multilateral organisation comprising countries that share a shoreline along the Indian Ocean. It was launched in March 1997 in Mauritius to focus mainly on trade-related issues. The shared identity of a common historical experience of colonialism and imperialism also contributed to bringing together the leaders of states in the Indian Ocean region.

South Africa was one of the founding members of the IOR-ARC. The organisation is based on the principle of open regionalism, which is a flexible arrangement that compares very favourably with other regional arrangements such as preferential trade agreements, FTAs, customs unions and common markets. With several IOR-ARC member states sharing participation in other regional initiatives, the IOR-ARC plays an important role as a building block for promoting south-south cooperation and complementing African-Asian regional integration.

IOR-ARC member states include Australia, Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Iran, Kenya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mozambique, Oman, Singapore, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Thailand, the UAE and Yemen.

The Dialogue Partners (China, Japan, France, Egypt and the International Tourist Organisation) committed themselves to supporting the implementation of the association’s priority programmes. The meeting also agreed to set up a special trust from which funds will be disbursed to various approved projects as grants, to push back the frontiers of poverty and underdevelopment for the peoples of the member states.

In March 2007, President Mbeki visited Riyadh, the capital of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

While in Riyadh, President Mbeki met King Abullah Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud to discuss, among other things, the status of bilateral, political and economic relations between the two countries.

The Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Tax Evasion Agreement was signed between South Africa and Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia is a major supplier of crude oil to South Africa and has indicated a keen interest to invest in this country.

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Relations with the Americas

United States of America

The USA has been the largest single foreign investor in the South African economy since 1994, one of the largest single country trading partners, and the largest donor of official development assistance.

South Africa has, in the past two years, been the top recipient of development assistance from among the 27 African countries supported by the USA Agency for International Development. Support for Nepad within the US Administration, Congress and the business sector, with particular focus on implementing infrastructure-development projects, remains a high priority.

Regarding military-to-military co-operation, South Africa and the USA continues bilateral interaction on the topic of military medicine research within the Phidisa Programme (a clinical research project focused on the management and treatment of HIV-infection in the uniformed members of the SANDF) and the African Contingency Operations Training Assistance Programme, which is aimed at enhancing South Africa’s peacekeeping and humanitarian-assistance intervention capabilities.

In 2006/07, emphasis was placed on achieving enhanced capacity, and creating the necessary mechanisms to facilitate the implementation of such ability throughout Africa.

The Sacu/US FTA negotiations encourage US support for economic development and cooperation, and also support the implementation of Nepad. A trade deputies meeting held in April 2006 decided that the comprehensive FTA would remain an objective in the long term, but that both parties would develop a joint work programme to address a broad range of FTA and other trade- and investment-related issues. Potentially in the near term, it will seek to conclude concrete trade- and investment-enhancing agreements. Such a framework (Trade and Investment Co-operation Agreement [TICA]) will establish the basis and form the building blocks for pursuing the FTA over the longer term.

In 2006/07, local capacity-building for research and effective delivery in the continuing battle against communicable diseases through the US Presidential Emergency Programme for AIDS (PEPFAR) received a boost. Under the PEPFAR, Africa received more than US$1 billion to fight the disease, of which South Africa obtained more than US$220 million in 2006.

Various high-level meetings took place, such as the meeting between presidents Mbeki and George W Bush in Washington in December 2006.

The two presidents discussed:

• the status of bilateral political and economic relations between both countries
• conflict resolution and peacekeeping in Africa
• multilateral co-operation, including developments in the WTO negotiations and South Africa's accession to the non-permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).

In January 2007, Minister Dlamini Zuma visited Washington where she held discussions with her counterpart, Secretary of State, Dr Condoleezza Rice.

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Canada

In January 2006, a new minority Conservative government, under Prime Minister Stephen Harper, was elected to power. A priority for 2006/07 became engaging with Canada under this new leadership. Achievements were registered on various fronts.

In May 2006, the third annual consultations between South Africa and Canada took place at senior officials’ level in Pretoria. It featured a broader agenda from previous interactions.

The year produced significant investment outcomes with the announcement of major Canadian direct investment in the Gautrain by McCain Plant and Alcan totalling R27 billion.

The two countries have signed a bilateral Overseas Development Assistance Treaty, facilitating the transfer of development assistance from Canada to South Africa.

Two project implementation plans are under way, releasing R50 million each to the South African Management Development Institute and the Department of Health for capacity-building programmes.

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The Caribbean

South Africa’s relations with the independent member states of the Caribbean community were further strengthened and expanded during 2006/07. South Africa opened a high commission in Port-of-Spain and Trinidad and Tobago in early 2007.

Together with the High Commission in Kingston, Jamaica, these two missions now maintain responsibility for Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, and Suriname. The mission in Havana, Cuba, is also responsible for relations with the Dominican Republic.

In formulating South Africa’s policy in relation to the emerging markets of the Caribbean, it is important to strengthen relations and develop common positions on global issues such as access to the markets of the industrial North, reform of international institutions and the promotion of the development agenda.

The South African Government will increase its focus on strengthening relations with the Caribbean region in future.

Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica and Suriname have diplomatic missions in South Africa.

In August 2007, the Minister of Social Development, Dr Zola Skweyiya, represented South Africa at the African Diaspora Global Conference, held in Barbados. Among other things, the conference sought to strengthen bonds of friendship and affinity among and between the people of the African continent, the Caribbean region and the world.

The conference set the tone for the AU Global Diaspora Conference held in November 2007 and ultimately an AU Global Diaspora Summit to be held in early 2008.

South Africa signed a bilateral co-operation agreement with the Bahamas in May 2005, and the first JBC met in September 2005. It focused on cooperation in agriculture, arts and culture, education and health. The next JBC was expected be held in South Africa in 2007. The fifth Joint Consultative Mechanism between Cuba and South Africa was held in Cuba in July 2007.

In October 2006, the Secretary for External Relations of the Dominican Republic, Minister Carlos Morales Troncoso, visited South Africa and held bilateral talks with his South African counterpart, Dr Dlamini Zuma.

They signed a declaration of intent in which they stated their intention to undertake consultations, joint actions and projections on issues of common interest. During the visit, Minister Morales Troncoso also announced his country’s decision to open a diplomatic mission in South Africa in 2007.

In September 2007, South Africa and Cuba signed an agreement of co-operation in the areas of:

• training of social workers and community development workers

• expanded public works programmes, with an emphasis on youth-employment creation in the early childhood development and care sectors.

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Latin America

The South American community of nations covers 17 million square kilometres, with 361 million inhabitants, a GDP of more than US$973 billion and exports of more than US$180 billion. The developing countries in Central America and the Andean Community are playing an increasingly important role in international political bodies and formations such as the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) and the UN.

In November 2006, President Mbeki and a South African delegation participated in the first-ever Africa-South American Summit, which took place in Abuja, Nigeria. The summit provided an opportunity for the two continents to meet for the first time to discuss issues of mutual importance.

There is also significant potential for co-operation with the Mercosur (Southern Common Market) trading bloc, which consists of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay and Venezuela as full members, and a steadily increasing number of associate members in the Latin American region. A partial preferential trade agreement with Mercosur was signed in December 2004. Negotiations towards a full FTA continue.

Brazil remains a significant player in the multilateral context, particularly regarding the interests of the South. With its like-minded approach to a number of significant issues affecting the developing world, it is a strategic partner for South Africa.

In the bilateral sphere, a broad range of contacts and exchanges exist between Brazil and South Africa. The IBSA Dialogue Forum also provides a multilateral mechanism for institutionalised engagement. In this context, South-South co-operation was boosted by President Mbeki’s attendance of the IBSA Summit in Brasilia in July 2006.

South Africa attaches great importance to its relations with other like-minded countries of the Southern Cone of Latin America such as Chile, Uruguay and Argentina, and to pursuing increased co-operation in a number of fields.

A range of technical and commercial agreements are either in place or being negotiated with several of the countries in the region. In addition, the inaugural meeting of the South Africa-Argentine JC took place in Pretoria in February 2007, co-chaired by Minister Dlamini Zuma and her Argentine counterpart, Mr Jorge Taiana. The JC with Brazil was expected to take place during 2007, as was the JC Mechanism with Chile.

South Africa’s first lady, Mrs Mbeki, led a delegation to Chile in 2006 to study poverty-reduction programmes. Official and study visits to countries of the Southern Cone by ministers and officials are ongoing. In the sphere of defence, the navies of several Southern Cone countries and South Africa also participated in the Atlasur joint naval exercises, contributing to closer institutional ties.

In June 2006, Colombia’s former Foreign Affairs Minister, Ms Carolina Barco, visited South Africa for bilateral economic and political discussions with Dr Dlamini Zuma. Bilateral trade flow between Colombia and South Africa is constant with the balance in favour of South Africa. SABMiller, Anglo American, Anglo Coal and AngloGold Ashanti are among the South African companies operating in Colombia.

Following a visit from President Evo Morales from Bolivia to South Africa in January 2006, a high-level South African delegation visited that country in July 2006 to explore ways of furthering bilateral relations.

An MoU on the establishment of a consultative mechanism was also signed. The inaugural meeting of this mechanism was expected to take place in 2007, to coincide with the opening of a Bolivian diplomatic mission in South Africa. The Vice President of Bolivia, Prof Alvaro Garcia Linera, visited South Africa in April 2007.

On 11 April 2007, Deputy President Mlambo-Ngcuka hosted her Bolivian counterpart, Vice President Alvaro Garcia Linera, for bilateral political and economic discussions.

Bilateral relations between South Africa and Venezuela have also been placed on a stronger footing.

South Africa hosted a delegation of the Movimiento al Socialismo, the majority party in the Bolivian Assembly, in May 2007. The Bolivian delegation’s visit was in response to the South African Government’s offer to Vice President Linera, during his visit in April 2007, to assist the Bolivians with institution-building and the process of drafting their Constitution.

In July 2007, Deputy Minister Pahad headed a South African delegation to Mexico for bilateral political, economic and trade discussions. They also visited Panama.

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Relations with Europe

European Union

The EU accounts for almost 40% of South Africa’s imports and exports. In 2006 alone, the EU’s FDI into South Africa amounted to R4,6 billion.

In October 2007, South Africa signed an agreement that will see it receiving almost R10 billion in development aid from the EU over the next seven years. The EU is the world’s largest trading bloc – generating about 30% of global GDP and 20% of global trade flows – and is also the world’s biggest donor to poor countries, contributing approximately half of global aid. The EU is also South Africa’s largest development-aid partner, having allocated R1,5 billion since 1994.

The Trade, Development and Co-operation Agreement (TDCA), which was signed in 1999 and provisionally came into force in January 2000, governs South Africa’s relations with the EU. The agreement would be reviewed within five years of entering into force, to address the possible implications of other arrangements or events that may affect the agreement.

The preliminary discussions on the review of the TDCA commenced in 2005 and a joint progress report was presented to the 2005 South Africa-EU Ministerial Joint Co-operation Council (JCC). The 2005 JCC gave the mandate for formal negotiations over the review of the TDCA to commence. By April 2007, working groups had not yet been established as the European Commission's (EC) mandate for the review was outstanding.

The TDCA was fully ratified on 1 May 2004, meaning that co-operation on the articles of the TDCA that were put in abeyance pending the completion of ratification procedures, could be activated.

The 2004 Ministerial JCC decided that full implementation of new areas of co-operation of the TDCA should be pursued. Consequently, the Department of Foreign Affairs held a series of interdepartmental meetings, after which the South African proposal for new areas for full implementation were communicated to the delegation of the EC to South Africa. The delegation indicated that the EC was not yet in a position to enter into discussions on the proposed new areas of co-operation, pending a council mandate.

The second meeting of the South Africa-EU Ministerial JCC (also the sixth South Africa-EU JCC) was held on 7 November 2005. It cemented the strong and productive relationships in trade, development and political dialogue.

The political discussion at the council meeting took place in troika format, co-chaired by Dr Dlamini Zuma and Mr Jack Straw, Secretary of State for Foreign and