The two-day forum will focus on aligning SA-UK bilateral co-operation with an emphasis on delivery.
Foreign Affairs spokesperson Ronnie Mamoepa said the forum was also crucial as it would be used as a platform to give impetus to the African agenda, as the UK would next year chair both the G8 grouping of Industrialised Countries and the recently expanded European Union.
"British Ministers have described this as a “great opportunity” to show leadership' and as a “unique opportunity” to put Africa at the top of the international agenda," said Mamoepa.
Straw will consult with Dlamini-Zuma on how the UK could effectively support the African Union (AU), Southern African Development Community (SADC), and the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) and peace-processes in Africa.
Dlamini Zuma will stress that the G8 should concentrate on capital flows to Africa and identify resources to finance development on the continent, as well as accelerate the implementation of the commitments G8 countries made in the Africa Action Plan adopted in 2002.
The forum will in this context discuss the International Finance Facility, an innovative British “frontloading” scheme to double global Official Development Aid (ODA) flows to $100-billion by 2015 to finance the Millennium Development Goals.
The second review of the G8 Africa Action Plan will take place at the UK G8 Summit in 2005.
The United Nations meets next year to review progress in achieving the Millennium Development Goals.
Mamoepa said the two foreign ministers will discuss and review how best to co-ordinate South Africa and UK efforts to advance the peace-processes in the Great Lakes and Sudan.
"Discussions will also look at global governance, multilateralism, Iraq, nuclear non-proliferation and the Middle East Peace Process," said Mamoepa.
Ministers of Defence, Finance, Health, Arts and Culture and Sport - Mosiuoa Lekota, Trevor Manuel, Manto Tshabalala-Msimang, Pallo Jordan and Makhenkhesi Stofile and other deputy ministers, will accompany Dlamini-Zuma.
Straw will be accompanied by the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Tessa Jowell, Chief Secretary to the Treasury P Boateng, Minister of State for Health, J Hutton, and Minister of State for the Armed Forces A Ingram. – BuaNews.
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