15 November 2002 12:19
RUSSIAN DEPUTY PM TO VISIT SA
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Valentina Matviyenko arrives in Pretoria on Sunday to attend the second session of the
joint inter-governmental committee on trade and economic co-operation (Itec) between South Africa and the Russian
Federation. The Foreign Affairs Department said on Friday she would co-chair the session, ending on Thursday, with
Foreign Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma. The meeting will take place under a trade agreement signed by the two
countries in 1993. The department said in a statement Matviyenko would also meet President Thabo Mbeki and his deputy
Jacob Zuma during her stay. She would hold bilateral talks with Dlamini-Zuma on the African Union, the New Partnership
for Africa's Development (Nepad), the Middle-East and current developments in Iraq. Russia has given its full
endorsement of the AU and Nepad. Issues on the agenda of the Itec meeting included the current status of the economies
of South Africa and Russia, mutual investment, trade and co-operation in the banking sector. In the agricultural field,
South African meat exports to Russia would feature strongly, the department said. Joint research projects in
bio-technology and laser technology would also be discussed. Other issues on the agenda included co-operation in the
mining industry and talks on water quality management. "Politically, South Africa's relations with the Russian
Federation have been identified as a priority," the department said. This was reflected in increasing interaction
between the leaders of the two countries in the past year. The department said trade and economic co-operation between
South Africa and Russia had not yet reached its full potential. "Both President Mbeki and (Russian) President
Vladimir Putin have therefore ... stressed the necessity for trade and economic relations to be prioritised." The
Itec meeting will also be attended by cabinet ministers Alex Erwin (Trade and Industry) and Dullah Omar (Transport).
Sapa 11/15/02 15-13 C=100
[AIW [Asia Africa Intelligence Wire]] |
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