Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
MEDIA STATEMENT ON DEPUTY PRESIDENT MBEKI'S VISIT TO FINLAND AND MALAYSIA
Deputy President Thabo Mbeki, accompanied by Deputy Foreign Minister Aziz Pahad, Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Mrs P Mlambo-Ngcuka, Deputy Minister Dr Essop Pahad and Director-General Frank Chikane from the Office of the Deputy President, will visit Finland and Malaysia from 12-22 September 1998.
During his stay in Finland, Deputy President Mbeki will meet with President Martti Ahtisaari, with whom he is expected to discuss issues of bilateral concern including trade and investment and development cooperation. The Deputy President will also meet Prime Minister Paavo Lipponen and the Speaker of Parliament Riitta Uosukainen. Meetings will also be held with the Finnish Confederation of Industry and Employers, as well as the Central Organisation for Finnish Trade Unions. An agreement on the Promotion and Reciprocal Protection of Investment will also be signed during the visit.
The Deputy President will address the prestigious Paasikivi Society, an international affairs group, named after the renowned post-war Finnish President, Juho Kusti Paasikivi, on the African Renaissance.
From Finland, the Deputy President will visit Malaysia at the invitation of Prime Minister Mahathir, where he is also expected to pay a courtesy call on His Majesty Tuanku Ja'far ibi Al-Marhum Tuanku Abdul Rahaman, the King of Malaysia. During his visit to Kuala Lumpur the Deputy President will also attend the closing ceremony of the Commonwealth Games, before returning to South Africa on 23 September 1998.
For additional information please contact Ronnie Mamoepa on 082-9904853.
ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS PRETORIA 11 SEPTEMBER 1998