Motlanthe jets off to Sweden on official working visit

Thursday, October 8, 2009

Pretoria - Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe will later today depart the country for Sweden on a three-day official working visit.

Motlanthe's working visit to Sweden follows a recent official visit to South Africa by the Swedish Prime Minister, Fredrik Reinfeldt.

According to the Presidency, Motlanthe aims to strengthen bilateral relations between South Africa and Sweden and to enhance "people-to-people" networks.

The SA-Sweden Binational Commission (BNC), among others, advances government priorities in support of the African Agenda and enhanced economic relations with special emphasis on investment, rural development, creation of decent jobs and climate change interventions.

"As convener of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on 2010 FIFA World Cup, the Deputy President is expected to invite the people of Sweden to 'book their tickets to South Africa,'" the Presidency said.

The "people-to-people" leg of the visit will see Deputy President address the Olof Palme Days 2009 Commemorations conference and is anticipated to highlight South Africa's experiences of transiting from liberation movements to a multi-party democratic political system.

Motlanthe is expected to return to South Africa on Sunday.