Pretoria - President Jacob Zuma will today attend the 3rd South Africa/European Union (SA/EU) Summit, an annual event at which cooperation under the SA-EU Strategic Partnership is reviewed at the highest level.
The President will use the opportunity to hold an Official Visit in Belgium within the context of strengthening relations with strategic formations of the North as well as deepening and broadening the current bilateral relations between the two countries.
President Zuma is accompanied by the Ministers of International Relations and Co-operation, Basic Education, Science and Technology, Trade and Industry, Defence, Home Affairs as well as Water and Environmental Affairs.
Belgium remains among South Africa's top ten trading partners and is the eighth fastest growing export destination. The European Union is the number one destination for South African exports and Belgian ports remain an important entry point for South African exports to countries both within and outside of the EU.
Zuma's Official Visit is also aimed at exploring the deepening of cooperation in strategic areas of mutual interest.
He will also strive to consolidate and enhance political relations, strengthen economic and commercial relations, strengthen development cooperation and partnership in support of education and skills development and trilateral co-operation to promote peace and stability of the African continent.
The President is on Tuesday expected to pay a courtesy call to Secretary-General of the ACP Group, Dr Mohamed Chambas to reaffirm the common ground between South Africa and the ACP Group. He will also participate in a gala dinner hosted by the South African Embassy and South African business in Belgium.
On Wednesday, he is expected to meet with the King of Belgium HE Albert II and Prime Minister Yves Leterme to strengthen and enhance bilateral relations. Zuma will engage Leterme on Belgium's continued support for initiatives geared towards promoting peace and stability on the African continent, especially in the Great Lakes Region.
The interaction will also be used to strengthen development cooperation and partnership in support of South Africa's national priorities, especially education and skills development.
It is expected that a Visa Waiver Agreement between South Africa and the Benelux countries (Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands) will be signed by the principals.
Science and Technology Minister Naledi Pandor will meet with her Belgian counterpart responsible for science policy, Sabine Laruelle, to discuss bilateral cooperation opportunities.
Pandor will also participate in a number of strategic events to strengthen South Africa's research and innovation partnership with Europe.
The events are expected to not only highlight the importance of the contribution of science and technology to the overall strengthening of the SA-EU relations, but will also identify opportunities and develop concrete plans for exploiting new partnerships.
The minister will host a programme that will bring together a range of South African and European experts. Running from 27 to 29 September 2010, the Science at the Summit Programme comprises five seminars focused on 50 years of laser innovation, the International Year of Biodiversity, Strengthening the Global Earth Observation System of Systems in anticipation of the forthcoming Group on Earth Observations Ministerial Summit and harnessing sport as the driver for research and innovation, by celebrating South Africa's successful hosting of the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
Science at the Summit is presented as part of the European South African Science and Technology Advancement Programme (ESASTAP).
According to the department, Pandor will also have a number of bilateral meetings with senior members of the European Commission, including M ire Geoghegan-Quinn, the European Commissioner for Research, Innovation and Science, as well as the Vice President of the European Commission and Commissioner for the Digital Agenda, Neelie Kroes.
