Programme Director;
Honourable Ministers here today;
High Commissioners and Ambassadors;
Members of the Diplomatic Corps;
Senior Government Officials;
Members of the Media;
Colleagues;
Ladies and gentlemen;

Please allow me to extend a very warm welcome to all of you on this afternoon. We are gathered here today to engage on an exercise that would take our relations and partnership to greater heights.

We have to do this collectively because we owe it to ourselves and those whom we represent.

Today, as I stand before you, South Africa looks on the rays of light of this glorious Africa that is revealing itself, and takes pride in the milestones it has achieved with its partners, and indeed nations of the world.

Our country constantly works towards the creation of a better South Africa and contributes to a better and safer Africa and the world.  

Indeed, your countries have provided significant opportunities for growth in the global economy currently and have greater prospects to do so in the future.  

In the context of South-South cooperation, our country shall continue to develop and deepen our cooperation with the countries in that part of the world to take full advantage of the trade, investment and human resource development opportunities provided for our country and people. 

The pillar of our South-South cooperation strategy is the BRICS partnership mechanism with China, India, Brazil and Russia.

We are also humbled that Japan continues to strengthen its partnership with South Africa and the rest of the African continent.  

Equally, we remain committed, to strengthening our relations and strategic advances with Iran, Holy See, Thailand, Chad and Qatar.

Later this year, our country will be handing over the Presidency of COP to Qatar as the next host of COP18/CMP8.

We wish the Government of Qatar all the best of luck.

Programme Director;

On 25 May 2012 we hosted the Global African Diaspora Summit.

The Summit was by all accounts an important milestone in the history of the African Union, and indeed the Continent.

This Summit also coincided with two very important historical events in the history of Africa, and in particular, the struggle for liberation in South Africa, for example, the Centenary Celebrations of the oldest liberation movement in Africa, the African National Congress (ANC), and the 10th Anniversary of the African Union.

For our part as a country, we will continue to promote closer ties with our neighbours in Southern Africa with whom we share goals of creating a better life.

We have held high level meetings with most countries in Southern Africa, and agreed to support each other.

You may be aware that the Southern African Development Community (SADC) approached the Government of South Africa proposing to field the name of Dr. NC Dlamini Zuma (South Africa’s Minister of Home Affairs) as its preferred candidate for the top position of African Union Commission Chair.  We have gladly accepted this proposal.    

We have supported the DRC with its second democratic elections, and led the SADC Election Observer Mission to the DRC, Zambia and Seychelles.

We continue to assist the people of Zimbabwe as part of our SADC mandate and to support SADC mediation efforts to return constitutional normalcy to Madagascar.

We will soon establish formal Diplomatic Relations with Somalia.

Furthermore, the independence of both Sudan and South Sudan are of utmost importance to the African continent and to South Africa in particular.

With regards to infrastructure development in the continent, our country has accepted a huge responsibility of chairing the AU/NEPAD Presidential Infrastructure Championing Initiative. We invite you to work with us!

You have come to our country on a winter season. But this must not restrict you from enjoying the scenic beauty our country has to offer.

I therefore urge you to make time and travel the four corners of this southern tip of Africa, and experience its beauty and hospitality.

Please do enjoy your stay in our beautiful country!

I thank you.