Date: 30/10/2003
Source: The Presidency
Title: J Zuma: Closing remarks at 4th SA-German Binational Commission


CLOSING REMARKS BY DEPUTY PRESIDENT JACOB ZUMA TO THE 4th SOUTH AFRICA-GERMAN BINATIONAL COMMISSION, Presidential Guest House, Pretoria, 30 October 2003

Mr Vice Chancellor,
Ladies and gentlemen,

Thank you, Vice Chancellor, for the closing statement presented on behalf of the German delegation.

As we conclude matters, let me congratulate the various Joint Committees for the hard work in preparing for this Binational Commission (BNC) as well as since the last BNC in 2001.

Many areas of co-operation have been discussed and concluded, and this has once again been a successful engagement, underlying the smooth and excellent relations between our two countries.

I am delighted at the proposals for the joint celebration of South Africa's 10th anniversary next year by South Africa and Germany. These activities will further strengthen the cultural collaboration between our two countries. The anniversary is an important milestone in our history. Against all odds, we moved away from the ruins of apartheid to build a new society. It is a celebration we would want to share with our dearest of friends and partners, such as yourselves.

Ladies and gentlemen, given the strong and growing economic linkages between our two countries, I am pleased that we were able to address important matters such as co-operation in investment promotion, black economic empowerment, industrial participation projects, the World Trade Organisation and providing continued active support to South African and German businesses.

Human resource and skills development remain a key priority for us and we welcome the agreement to further strengthen cooperation in this regard. We applaud the growing relations in the higher education sector since 2001, as indicated by the increase in formal cooperation programmes between German and South African universities from 39 to 57, as well as increase in the number of applicants and scholarships awarded to postgraduates, students and scientists.

Also of particular significance for the bilateral relationship between the two countries is the German participation in the Strategic Defence Packages, where German consortiums are the main contractors for the supply of the South African Navy's new corvettes and submarines.

In this regard, as part of our skills development programme, we welcome the vocational training support rendered by the German government through the Centre for the Advanced Training at the Service Corps of our Department of Defence.

Ladies and gentlemen, earlier today, during political consultations on a wide range of issues, we experienced the convergence of views on a number of international issues. This confirmed yet again that we are of one mind about the kind of world we envisage for future generations and ourselves. It is this vision of a better world that drives us to work harder for the common good of all our peoples.

The fourth BNC has reaffirmed the good relations and strong bond of friendship between our two countries.

I thank you all for your time and hard work.

May I, Mr Vice Chancellor, reiterate our pleasure in hosting you and your delegation, and wish you a most enjoyable stay in our country.

I thank you.

Issued by: The Presidency
30 October 2003