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President Thabo Mbeki will lead a South African government delegation to Cuba on the first state visit to that country by a South African President.

The delegation will include Ministers Dr Dlamini-Zuma of Foreign Affairs, Ms T Didiza-Msane of Agriculture and Land Affairs, Dr B Ngubane of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology, Mr N Balfour of Sport and Recreation and Prof K Asmal of Education.

The Department of Trade and Industry will be represented by senior officials.

The historic bilateral relations date back to the prominent and decisive role played by Cuba in the struggle and victory against apartheid and colonialism in Southern Africa, particularly through the substantial investment of human and material resources in the provision of military, human resource development, and health services support. More than 250 South African students studied at different institutions in Cuba during those years.

Following the democratic transition in South Africa, intense interest and bilateral interactions have developed between different sectors of the two countries, including exchanges in sports, health, cultural, media, parliamentary and other political delegations.

President Thabo Mbeki's visit therefore takes place against a background of excellent relations, which are expected to be further consolidated by the visit.

DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS

Since the establishment of diplomatic relations with the advent of democracy in South Africa in 1994, numerous official visits have taken place between the two countries, the most outstanding of which was the State Visit to South Africa by President Fidel Castro in 1998.

Recent high level visits include both government and party delegations, prominent amongst which is the visit by Deputy President Jacob Zuma in October of 2000.

Foreign Affairs Minister Dr N Dlamini-Zuma paid an official visit to Cuba in February 2001, in preparation for President Mbeki's State Visit, at which time she also signed an agreement with the Cuban Minister of Foreign Investments and Co-operation, establishing a Joint Commission between South Africa and Cuba. The agreement provides a formal structure to bilateral co-operation, particularly in the trade and investments arena, as well as other trilateral co-operation projects.

Agreements already signed between our two countries include:

* Promotion and Reciprocal Protection of Investments;
* Declaration of Intent on Co-operation in Health;
* Trade Agreement;
* Declaration of Intent for Co-operation in the field of Labour;
* Declaration of Intent on Co-operation between the Foreign Ministries; and
* Joint Commission Agreement.

Cuba's contribution to the provision of affordable health care in South Africa remains substantial. Following the signature of the agreement on Co-operation in Health, 463 Cuban doctors were assigned to work in South Africa mainly in rural and previously unserviced areas, while 185 South African students currently study medicine in Cuba. The two countries also continue to co-operate in areas of health research.

Cuba has also made significant commitments to the reconstruction and development of affordable housing, sports development and human resource development in South Africa.

MULTILATERAL RELATONS

Cuba is a prominent member of the Non-Aligned Movement and of the Group of 77 and China - whose first Summit was hosted in Havana, in April 2000. Both countries have similar approaches to the various issues collectively embodied in the South Agenda, which include increased co-operation between countries of the South and a redefinition of relations between the North and South.

Increased bilateral engagement in this field is a key co-operation objective of the Foreign Ministries, in the pursuance of a sustainable world socio-economic order, to the benefit, particularly, of the world's poor.

TRADE RELATIONS

A trade agreement was signed between the two countries in 1997 and significant trade contracts, particularly the sale of 10,000 diesel engines to Cuba, have since been concluded.

Highlights of President Mbeki's programme include:

* A lecture by President Mbeki at the University of Havana on the Millennium Africa Programme and the African Renaissance;

* Unveiling of the bust of the late OR Tambo, former President of the ANC, at the African Memorial Park (dedicated to deceased leaders of Africa's liberation struggle);

* Signature of co-operation agreements;

* Visits to a biotechnology research institute and petrochemical processing plant.

Enquiries:
Bheki Khumalo 083 200 1900
Tasneem Carrim on 012 319 1500/ 083 650 7119

Issued by: The Presidency, 23 March 2001