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President Thabo Mbeki and President Fidel Castro concluded bilateral discussions in Havana on Tuesday 27 March with the signing of agreements on sports, air services, merchant shipping, culture, science and technology.

The South African delegation included Ministers Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, Kader Asmal, Ben Ngubane, Thoko Didiza, Ngconde Balfour, Rev. Frank Chikane and Foreign Affairs Acting Deputy Director-general Ndumiso Ntshinga.

President Mbeki briefed President Castro on efforts being undertaken by the South African government towards national reconciliation without undermining the need for fundamental transformation of society. In this regard, President Mbeki also mooted on programmes that the government has embarked upon to redress the ownership patterns of the economy, media and other areas of our society.

President Mbeki expressed gratitude for the support Cuba was providing SA in terms of medical doctors working in the country as well as South African students studying medicine and other fields in Cuba. This includes the proposed Cuban programme aimed at training South African teachers in improving the quality of education in our society.

President Mbeki further briefed President Castro on measures that the African continent has now embarked upon in an attempt to address poverty, marginalisation, under-development, debt, trade relations and capital flows through he Millennium Africa Recovery Plan. President Mbeki indicated that there is readiness on the part of the developed world including the World Bank and IMF to support the plan.

The president also briefed President Castro of political developments and challenges facing the SADC region.

President Mbeki stressed the urgent need for cohesion among countries of the South in an attempt to access the existing capacities in these countries towards the improvement of the quality of lives of the people. In this context, President Mbeki briefed President Castro on challenges facing the South African government in its endeavours to ensure access to affordable drugs to address diseases facing South Africa.

For his part, President Castro expressed the support of the Cuban government for the Millennium Africa Recovery Plan, the struggle for affordable medicines as well as Cuba's commitment to assisting countries of the South with more doctors, and pledged his support for teacher training programmes for South Africa.

Contact:
Ronnie Mamoepa at 09537-804398
Bheki Khumalo at 09537-804387

Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs, 27 March 2001