Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
23 September 2000
President Thabo Mbeki reiterated the need for a global strategy, which will draw on developed countries of the North into a strategic partnership to address the challenges of African development, poverty and under-development.
The President was addressing a dinner hosted in his honour by President Abdelaziz Bouteflika in Algiers on Friday 22 September.
"A call needs to be made to the developed world that wealth and development cannot be sustained in a situation of poverty and under-development in countries of the South.
"We must challenge countries of the North in a practical programme aimed at fighting poverty and marginalisation of the continent.
"The launch of the SA-Algeria Bi-National Commission must help evolve a vision that will be of benefit to our respective countries and the continent as a whole".
The President further noted that the process of globalisation has created unequal citizens of the global village. "Most of those who are not well off are in the continent of Africa," said President Mbeki.
The continent can only succeed in fighting poverty, marginalisation and under-development if her leaders worked together within the framework of a clear vision. In this regard, the President noted that the continent boasted of people capable of doing extra-ordinary things. "The challenge is to put together the collective wisdom and intellect of the entire continent to overcome diseases, violent conflicts, poverty and under-development, whilst harnessing our natural resources for the benefit, not of a few, but all our peoples. Yet we should continue to ensure the continent is not left behind the digital divide."
President Mbeki concluded his remarks by noting that we are participants in a historic moment which has begun showing great promise in that the challenges of African development and the need to use existing resources to end poverty on the continent of Africa are now firmly entrenched on the agenda of the United Nations following the recent Millennium Summit.
The President will today, visit the Algerian Revolutionary monument, the Armed Forces Museum, a state owned company and meet with the African Diplomatic corps accredited to Algeria.!
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