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President Mbeki, Kofi Annan and President-General Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to address largest gathering of leaders of the South
21 April 2005
Jakarta – South African President Thabo Mbeki, Indonesian President-General Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Kofi Annan are expected to open the largest gathering of leaders from the South in the Asia-Africa Summit to be held in Jakarta, Indonesia from Friday to Saturday, 22 to 23 April 2005.
The Asia-Africa Summit, co-hosted by South Africa and Indonesia, is convened under the theme, "Reinvigorating the Bandung Spirit: Towards a New Asian-African Strategic Partnership."
President Thabo Mbeki is accompanied to the Summit by Mrs Zanele Mbeki, Foreign Minister Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, Deputy Foreign Minister Aziz Pahad and South Africa’s Ambassador to Indonesia Mandla Memela.
The Summit will be briefed by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan on the reform of the UN system including the UN Security Council, the UN General Assembly and ECOSOC.
The Summit will also receive recommendations from the Ministerial segment co-chaired by Indonesian Foreign Minister Dr Noer Hassan Wirajuda and South African Foreign Minister Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma on:
* The new Asian-African Strategic Partnership;
* Asia-Africa co-operation on disaster reduction;
* The new Asian-African Partnership Plan of Action; and
* The agenda and programme of activities of the Asian-African Strategic Partnership.
The Summit provides leaders of the South with an excellent opportunity to help define the global agenda in respect of meeting the targets of the Millennium Development Goals, World Trade Organisation negotiations, and the reform of the UN.
In addition, President Thabo Mbeki is expected to chair the Heads of State and Government interactive session on the development of a new Asian-African Strategic Partnership.
Earlier in the week, President Mbeki concluded bilateral political and economic discussions with President-General Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono during his State Visit to Indonesia and will conclude a State Visit to Singapore later today.
Enquiries: Ronnie Mamoepa
Cell: 082 990 4853
Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
21 April 2005