Issued by: The Department of Foreign Affairs
MEDIA STATEMENT ON THE STATE VISIT BY PRESIDENT MANDELA TO CANADA ON 23 - 25 SEPTEMBER 1998
President Nelson Mandela will visit Canada from 23 - 25 September 1998 at the invitation of the Right Honourable Romeo LeBlanc, Governor General.
During his visit the President will:
- address a Joint Sitting of the Canadian Parliament on 24 September 1998. He became the only non-head following his release from prison;
- become the first foreign leader to be awarded the Companion of the Order of Canada by the Governor General at a State Banquet in his honour on 24 September 1998;
- unveil a human rights plaque in honour of Mr John Humphrey, a principal architect of the UN Declaration on Human Rights;
- address a rally to mark the launching of the Canadian Friends of the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund on Friday 25 September 1998 at the Toronto SkyDome. Dubbed as "Mandela and the Children", this event is expected to draw about 40,000 children, and will be covered live on CBC Newsworld. The President's visit will present an opportunity to thank and salute Canadians for their particular involvement in the anti-apartheid campaign and for their ongoing support during South Africa's transition, and to consolidate the friendly diplomatic, political and economic relations between the two countries. It will be one of the last few state visits he undertakes before he retires from politics.
The opportunity will also be utilised for bilateral discussions of a possible framework for future foreign policy cooperation and consultations.
The following Agreements and memoranda will be signed during the visit :
- Trade and Investment Cooperation arrangement;
- Memorandum of Understanding on Bilateral Cooperation in Sport;
- Declaration of Intent on Negotiations on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters and Extradition;
- Letter of Intent between the South African Government and the Canadian International Development Research Centre.
Canada and South Africa share warm bilateral relations, including full diplomatic representation and shared interests in many international fora.
Trade between Canada and South Africa has steadily, and in many instances dramatically increased since the lifting of all sanctions in 1994. South Africa enjoys a favourable balance of trade with Canada and exports in 1997 further increased by some 8 percent. In 1996, Canadian exports to South Africa amounted to $214 million and her imports amounted to $440 million.
In the same year, Canadian Direct Investment into South Africa was $154 million. South Africa and Canada signed bilateral agreements on Foreign Investment Protection and the Avoidance of Double Taxation, of which the letter came into force in 1997. The total value of trade between the two countries reached almost $1 billion last year.
When in Toronto, President Mandela will address a Canada-South Africa Business Summit hosted by the South African Minister of Finance, Trevor Manuel, on behalf of the Department of Trade and Industry. This will be attended by amongst others a large South African business delegation including Mr Vusi Khanyile, CEO of Thebe Investments, Canadian business institutions and sponsors.
President Mandela will be accompanied by:
- Minister of Health, Dr Nkosazana Zuma;
- Minister of Finance, Trevor Manuel;
- Deputy minister of Safety & Security, Joe Matthews;
- Director-general in the Office of the President, Professor Jakes Gerwel;
- Foreign Affairs Deputy Director-General for Europe & the Americas, Mrs Thutukile Mazibuko.
Enquiries : D Moyo, (613) - 850 2503 S Makena, (613) - 290 3671 E Bitzer, (514) 594 4838
ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS ON BEHALF OF THE HIGH COMMISSION IN CANADA 23 SEPTEMBER 1998