Johannesburg - President Jacob Zuma, together with other cabinet ministers, have met with South African Heads of Mission.
The meeting was to hone in South Africa's international relations policy approaches as well as discuss a range of national and international issues.
International Relations Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane briefed the Heads of Mission yesterday on the developments and the direction the country will take, with regard to international relations.
"Our Heads of Missions and other colleagues deployed to our Missions, are our link with the world - you are our ears and voices.
"Your ears provide us with invaluable advice to guide our foreign policy. Also, what you say about our country is our voice to our partners in the world," she told the conference.
The missions play an important role, Ms Nkoana- Mashabane added.
For the next five years, government has identified six foreign policy priorities and hopes that the mission will also play a role in realising these goals.
These priorities include improving the political and economic integration of the SADC; the continued prioritisation of the African continent and the strengthening of South-South relations.
It will further intensify strategic relations with strategic formations of the North; strengthen political and economic relations and participate in the Global System of Governance.
