MEDIA RELEASE
Released By:
Smith
I will travel to Africa today, Sunday 24 January, for the second time as Minister for Foreign Affairs, visiting Botswana and South Africa from Sunday 24 to Tuesday 26 January.
I will celebrate Australia Day in South Africa.
I will be the first Australian Foreign Minister to visit Botswana.
I will meet my counterpart, Foreign Minister Phandu Skelamani, to discuss further ways of advancing bilateral cooperation, including in education, quarantine and fire management. I will also meet with other Bostwanan Ministers.
I previously hosted Mr Skelemani in Canberra in June 2009.
I will be the first Australian Foreign Minister to visit South Africa in more than seven years.
Australia is determined to enhance high-level political engagement with South Africa, which is Australia's most important economic partner in Africa.
Bilateral trade in goods and services was over $4 billion in 2008-09 and there is substantial investment in both directions, especially in the minerals resources sector.
People-to-people links are also strong, with more than 130,000 South African born Australians.
In South Africa I will meet my counterpart, Foreign Minister Nkoana-Mashabane.
We will discuss ways of boosting the bilateral relationship and exchange views on a range of common interests, including cooperation in the G20. South Africa is the only African country in the G20.
I will also meet South Africa's Deputy President, Kgalema Motlanthe, and deliver an address to the South African Institute for International Affairs.
In both Botswana and South Africa I will discuss the situation in Zimbabwe and possible ways in which Australia might cooperate with both countries to deliver humanitarian and capacity-building assistance in Zimbabwe.
I am especially pleased to visit South Africa in 2010 as it prepares to host the Football World Cup. I will receive a briefing on preparations from World Cup organisers in Johannesburg.
This will be the most significant sporting event ever held in Africa. More than 7000 Australians are likely to travel to South Africa for the tournament.
Media contacts:
- Mr Smith's office 02 6277 7500
- Departmental Media Liaison 02 6261 1555