Your Excellency, Ms Åsa Romson, the Deputy Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Sweden
Your Excellency, Mr Anders Hagelberg, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Sweden to Republic of South Africa
Your Excellency, Ms Faith Radebe, South Africa's Ambassador to the Kingdom of Sweden
Honourable Ministers and Deputy Ministers present
Distinguished Guests
Ladies and Gentlemen

Deputy Prime Minister, we are pleased to honour your invitation and wish to thank you for the warm welcome extended to me and the members of my delegation by the government and people of Sweden.

The Government and people of South Africa consider Sweden to be a great friend of our country. This visit is testimony to the special ties that were formed in our common struggle for democracy in South Africa.

The generosity of the Swedish people, who gave whole-hearted support in making available humanitarian aid and other means of support lies close to the hearts of South Africans.
Sweden supported us without any conditions or motives apart from helping us usher democracy, deliver social justice, and uplift our people from years of deep suffering and exclusion.
For that, we salute Sweden and remain grateful to its people.

Your Excellency,

I am pleased to Co-Chair this crucial 9th session of the Bi-National Commission (BNC) between our countries, and I have every intention to build on the sterling work of my predecessors.
This BNC attests to the strong ties that our countries have built over several years on shared interests and mutual values.

The South Africa-Sweden Bi-National Commission creates an opportunity for both sides to examine the scope of our relations over a wide range of issues.

The political, economic, social and development issues will again be reviewed holistically, so that our relations can be deepened and strengthened for the mutual benefit of both countries.
Your Excellency,

Our national priorities are central to the attainment of our country's goal of uplifting all the people of South Africa.

For South Africa, this Bi-National Commission forms part of our determined efforts in our young, cherished, vibrant democracy to take charge of our own destiny.

In our quest to effectively deal with the challenges of poverty, inequality and unemployment, the need to grow and develop our economy, create jobs and develop skills that are supportive to the needs of the economy is critical.

Our co-operation with a country like Sweden presents enormous opportunities in addressing these priorities whilst at the same time promoting trade and investment between the two countries.
The issue of skills development and job creation, especially amongst South African youths, is a growing concern for the South African Government.

As we are all aware, youth unemployment is a global phenomenon and requires innovative solutions.
Sweden is also facing its own youth unemployment challenge which it is working hard to address.
In our relationship, we can share ideas and develop strategies to address this common challenge.

In this regard, I would like to express gratitude for the tangible benefits deriving from our bilateral cooperation and its positive impact on South Africa's key national priorities, especially in the field of education, the creation of employment, skills development and vocational training.

I would like to acknowledge the broad based bilateral relationship between our respective countries and also the South Africa-EU Strategic Partnership which enables South Africa and Sweden to further deepen and broaden our relations.
Your Excellency,
Our deliberations this year take place at no ordinary time.

Since the last meeting of the BNC two (2) years ago, events in the international arena have greatly changed both in positive and negative ways.

We have witnessed the unfolding conflicts in several regions, especially in the Middle East and North Africa, with often tragic consequences for the many people seeking safe passage to Europe.

This year also marks the historic 70th anniversary since the founding of the United Nations.

South Africa is pleased that the General Assembly has adopted Agenda 2030 which sets out the sustainable development goals (SDGs) and targets.

We are also on the eve of yet another important international meeting, the Climate Change negotiations (COP21) which will take place in Paris later this year.

These developments all provide a sound basis for the international community to work collectively to address the many challenges facing the world.

It is important that we have an inclusive, transparent and representative multilateral system to address the urgent global challenges of sustainable development today, recognising the universality and central role of the UN.

Through Africa's Agenda 2063 and its first 10-Year Action Plan, the continent's leaders are committed to the vision of a revival of Africa, determined to eradicate the evils of poverty and underdevelopment.

In most of these areas, Sweden has proven to be a true friend of the African continent.

Your commitment to stability, progress and sustainable development, on the basis of an equal and constructive partnership, is highly valued.

As South Africans, and Africans, we seek to integrate ourselves ever more fully within the rapidly globalising world economy.

We are confident that we will succeed because we have dependable, strategic partners such as Sweden which will continue to be with us to achieve higher levels of growth and employment and increase the international competitiveness of our economy.

Let me also at this stage acknowledge the role of Sweden in its attempts to support all efforts that try to bring and consolidate international peace and security through multilateral mechanisms.

Both our countries are known for their commitment to the principle of multilateralism and working through institutions like the UN and in our respective regions, the AU and EU.

Through our continued collaboration and our discussions here today, we will be able to enhance and foster the constructive and fruitful relationship that both our countries derive from the Bi-National Commission and its programmes.

I look forward to the reports from the various Committees which will direct the path for our future cooperation especially in the fields of, environment, trade and investment, ICT, energy, science and technology, skills development and in the maritime sector.

I am reminded that our Bi-National Commission is taking place during a month of birth in this city of one of the world's greatest inventors, Alfred Nobel.

October is also the month of birth of Oliver Tambo, an exceptional leader of our people who worked intimately for many years with a hero of both our countries, Sweden's late Prime Minister-  Olof Palme.

I hope that our deliberations and efforts to create a better South Africa, a better Africa, and a better world will be guided and inspired by the inventiveness, imagination, and humanitarian values that we remember Alfred Nobel, Olof Palme, and Oliver Tambo for.

I thank you.