SOUTH AFRICA: South African President Thabo Mbeki hold talks with French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin

South African President Thabo Mbeki today held political and economic discussions with French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin at the Presidential Guesthouse in Pretoria. President Mbeki held discussions with Prime Minister de Villepin within the context of South Africa's priority to promote North-South co-operation with a view to pushing back the frontiers of poverty and underdevelopment. The meeting between President Mbeki and Prime Minister de Villepin was preceded by a working luncheon between Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma with Prime Minister de Villepin as part of preparations for the bilateral meeting between President Mbeki and Prime Minister de Villepin. Issues on the agenda of discussions between President Mbeki and Prime Minister de Villepin are expected to include, among others, the status of bilateral political and economic relations between both countries; issues relating to Africa, in particular on EU and G8 programmes relating to the African Union and Nepad, conflict resolution and peace-building initiatives and the Middle East Peace Process. While in South Africa Prime Minister de Villepin delivered an open address to the University of Witwatersrand and visited Soweto. France ranks amongst South Africa's top ten trading partners. South African exports to France are dominated by machinery; mineral and base metal products; vegetable products; chemical and allied industry products; and textile and textile articles. South Africa's top five imports from France consist mainly of vehicles, aircraft (airbus), vessel and associated transport; machinery and mechanical appliances and electrical equipment; products of chemical or allied industries; plastics and rubber articles; and optical, photographic and cinematographic equipment. From January to June 2006, total trade between South Africa and France amounted to R12, 5 billion, with a trade surplus of R5,8 billion in favour of France. In 2005, total trade amounted to R 22 billion with a trade surplus of R 13 billion in favour of France. Bilateral trade in 2004 was R24 billion and R20 billion in 2003. France and South Africa have an agreement to promote "privileged economic relations" between the two countries. New French companies in South Africa have trebled over the past years and there are now 150 plus established French companies in South Africa. Prime Minister de Villepin is expected to depart from South Africa on Saturday 2 December 2006.

ITN Source | December 2, 2006

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