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24 March 2008

Santiago: South African Foreign Minister Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma arrived in Santiago, Chile where she will hold bilateral discussions with Chile's Foreign Minister Alejandro Foxley scheduled for Tuesday, 25 March 2008, aimed at boosting economic ties between the two countries.

Minister Dlamini Zuma is visiting Santiago to boost economic relations with Chile within the framework of advancing South-South co-operation. Whilst in Chile, Minister Dlamini Zuma is expected to pay a courtesy call to President Michelle Bachelet to deliver a message from President Thabo Mbeki.

Accordingly and in this regard, Minister Dlamini Zuma's visit is expected to give impetus towards the finalisation of agreements on:
* avoidance of double taxation
* exemption of visas for diplomatic and official passport holders
* sanitary and phytosanitary
* science and technology
* arts and culture.

In this context, bilateral discussions between Minister Dlamini Zuma and Minister Foxley are expected to focus on among others:
* reviewing the status of the SA-Chile Joint Consultative Mechanism
* mutual reduction of tariffs on goods traded between the two countries
* participation of South Africa at Chile's Chagual Botanical Gardens in 2010 to mark Chile's Centenary celebrations
* tourism
* strengthening Chile's relations with Africa
* regional and multilateral issues.

Chile views South Africa as an important regional and global player and a gateway into Africa. Relations between the two countries are mutually reinforcing and supportive both at bilateral and multilateral levels.

Bilateral agreements signed

Since the state visit of President Thabo Mbeki in 2005 and the subsequent attendance of the Inauguration of President Michelle Bachelet in 2006, several bilateral agreements have been signed between the two countries including Memoranda of Agreement on:
* training prosecutors between South Africa's National Prosecuting Authority and Chile's Ministerio Publico
* co-operation in research in the mining industry between Mintek and Chile's CIMM
* training of military officers, exchange of visits of naval vessels and technical co-operation in the Defence industry between the two countries Defence Ministries
* exchange of technical information and delegations to study poverty reduction programmes.

During her visit to Chile, Minister Dlamini Zuma is expected to attend the Socialist International Meeting of the Commission for a Sustainable World Society hosted by Chile's President Michelle Bachelet and co-chaired by former President of Chile Ricardo Lagos and former Swedish Prime Minister Goran Persson. The Commission was established to deal with Global Environmental issues, climate change as well as issues of global governance.

Minister Dlamini Zuma returns to South Africa on Thursday, 27 March 2008.

Enquiries:
Ronnie Mamoepa
Cell: 082 990 4853

Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
24 March 2008