Issued by: Government Communications (GCIS)
MEDIA STATEMENT: OFFICIAL VISIT OF MR LADISLAV MRAVEC, DIRECTOR GENERAL OF THE FOREIGN MINISTRY OF CZECH REPUBLIC TO THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA: 4 - 6 JUNE 1998
The Director-General of the Czech Foreign Ministry responsible for Asia, Africa, Middle East and the Americas, Mr Ladislav Mravec paid an official visit to South Africa from 4-6 June 1998.
Mr Mravec met with the Acting Director General of the Department of Foreign Affairs, Ms T Mazibuko and other senior officials on 5 June 1998 during which bilateral relations between the two countries were discussed. It was agreed that the political, economic, cultural and social relations between South Africa and the Czech Republic were sound and that political consultations between the two countries should be further developed.
The Acting Director-General, Mrs T Mazibuko, indicated that South Africa was looking forward to the state visit of Czech President Vaclav Havel to South Africa later this year and emphasised that the visit would contribute significantly to the further consolidation of the friendship between the two countries.
It was also noted that economic relations were expanding at a rapid pace and that a number of South African companies have already successfully invested in the Czech Republic. Both sides agreed that there was ample scope for expansion in the field of trade, joint ventures and defence cooperation.
The Czech Republic has also expressed the interest to cooperate closer with individual provinces in South Africa.
ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS PRETORIA 5 JUNE 1998