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President Mbeki will undertake a State visit to the Republic of Zambia on Friday and Saturday 29 - 30 October 1999. This visit is the first state visit by the President of South Africa. The President will be accompanied by among others Mrs. Zanele Mbeki, Minister of Trade and Industry (Mr Alec Erwin), Minister of Agriculture (Ms Thoko Didiza), Deputy Minister of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology (Ms Bridget Mabandla), and Minister of Foreign Affairs (Dr N C Dlamini-Zuma).

The aim of the visit is to strengthen bilateral relations between South Africa and Zambia. Specifically, the meeting will focus on economic and trade relations. The Zambian Chamber of Commerce and Industry will also host a luncheon in the fields of Arts, Culture and Agriculture.

In this regard, the two countries have agreements on:

* Carriage of goods and conveyance of passengers by road
* Co-operation in the economic, social, scientific, technical and cultural fields
* Upgrading of existing diplomatic relations
* Air services
* Transportation by road of commodities related to drought relief
* And the establishment of representative offices

Currently South African exports to Zambia amount to over R2billion and Zambian imports to South Africa account for over R200million. Since, 1995 there has been an increase of 200% in trade between the two countries.

President Mbeki who spent a number of his exile years in Zambia, will have an opportunity during the visit, to pay homage at the graveside of a number of ANC cadres who perished during the struggle against apartheid, as well as visit former ANC buildings in Lusaka.

The President will return to South Africa on Saturday 30 October.

For more information contact Tasneem Carrim at 083-650-7119

Issued by the Office of the President, Thabo Mbeki
The Presidency
Communication Unit
P/Bag X1000
Pretoria
0001
27 October 1999.