Issued by Department of Foreign Affairs
30 January 2001
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma will depart South Africa, today, Tuesday 30 January to pay an official visit to the Republic of Cuba from 1st - 5th February 2001. The visit is at the invitation of the Government of the Republic of Cuba.
In Cuba, Minister Dlamini Zuma is expected to sign an Agreement for the Establishment of a Joint Commission between the two Governments. Minister Dlamini Zuma is also expected to deliver a speech at the Diplomatic Institute of Cuba. She will also hold bilateral discussions with her counterpart, Minister Felipe Perez Rogue.
The visit to Cuba by Minister Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma takes place against the background of excellent bilateral relations, premised on the historic engagement between the Cuban Government and the South African Liberation Movements during the anti-apartheid struggle. Cuba played a pivotal role in the eventual defeat of apartheid in South Africa by providing inter alia, substantial material assistance in the military, human resource development, reconstruction and medical fields.
South Africa and Cuba have strong political and economic relations and they cooperate in various multilateral fora, including Non Alignment Movement (NAM) and the G77 and China. Opportunities for extended co-operation exist in the field of mining and agriculture which have shown significant growth over the past few years.
The Cuban Foreign Minister Mr Felipe Perez Rogue, paid an official visit to South Africa from 21st - 22nd March 2000 where he held discussions with President Thabo Mbeki, Minister Dlamini Zuma, Minister Erwin and former President Nelson Mandela. A declaration of Intent on Co-operation between the Foreign Ministries of South Africa and Cuba was signed.
In April 2000, Cuba hosted the Summit of the G77 and China. The positions it adopted at the Summit served to once again identify it as a potential partner in the search for a just and sustainable world economic order, to the benefit of world's poor. The Minister's visit will therefore be an added opportunity for the two countries to further cement their relations and explore new areas of sustained co-operation, particularly in the sphere of multilateral engagement.
In the field of health there is active co-operation between our two countries. More than 450 Cuban doctors are working in South Africa, and more than 200 South African students are studying medicine in Cuba. There are plans for both these numbers to be increased. South Africa and Cuba concluded several bilateral agreements.
For more information contact Ronnie Mamoepa at 082-990-4853