South Africa has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening relations with France, with rising cooperation in funding, science and expertise, and cultural diplomacy, amongst others.
“France is a key strategic partner for South Africa, and we enjoy longstanding bilateral cooperation spanning trade and investment, energy, defence, education, people-to-people exchange and other fields,” President Cyril Ramaphosa stated on Friday throughout his assembly with French President Emmanuel Macron.
President Ramaphosa, who’s on an Official Visit to France from 10-12 July, stated the financial relationship between South Africa and France is rising from power to power, and that the sixth South Africa Investment Conference held in Johannesburg in March noticed a powerful exhibiting by French firms.
“This is a premier event for showcasing the opportunities for domestic and international investors in the South African economy, aligned with our national investment drive. This year, thirty French companies pledged approximately EUR 1,11 billion (ZAR 20,7 billion) in investments across a range of key economic sectors.”
This, stated President Ramaphosa, demonstrates the growing confidence French companies have within the South African financial system and its future progress prospects.
“As we embark on the largest mass infrastructure build in our country’s history, we look forward to participation by French firms in this as well as other sectors.”
President Ramaphosa has additionally been briefed on a number of agreements which are at present underneath negotiation, together with an Agreement on Transport Related Matters; on Cooperation within the Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy; and a Draft Declaration of Intent on Mobility.
In addition, South Africa and France proceed to collaborate within the fields of science, expertise and innovation, stated the President whereas additionally congratulating France on turning into a full member of the Square Kilometer Array Observatory (SKAO), making it the 14th Member State of the intergovernmental organisation.
“I am told that the recently held Joint Committee Meeting on science, technology and innovation was a productive one. The priority focus areas for cooperation include Artificial Intelligence (AI), oceans and marine sciences, and soil health and water.
“We welcome this ongoing cooperation in pursuit of innovation-led growth and environmental sustainability.”
Defence dialogue and cultural diplomacy
On cooperation within the defence house, the 2 nations have agreed to convene the lengthy overdue thirteenth Defence Strategic Dialogue to take inventory of implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Defence Cooperation and to discover further areas of cooperation.
It is anticipated that the Strategic Dialogue will happen in South Africa in October this 12 months.
“France and South Africa continue to advance cultural diplomacy between our two countries to develop our respective creative industries. This relationship has a key role to play in harnessing the potential of the sector to support growth, transformation, social cohesion and job creation.”
Multilateralism
On multilateralism, President Ramaphosa stated the world is confronting a number of, complicated and interconnected challenges together with commerce tensions, wars, pandemics, poverty and unemployment that threaten to undermine the hunt to obtain a extra peaceable, egalitarian and sustainable world.
“Multilateralism is the most effective means for addressing these collective global challenges. No country can resolve these issues in isolation. The current global environment requires stronger partnerships, collective action, and a renewed commitment to the principles of the United Nations Charter and international law,” he stated.
Earlier on Friday, the President co-chaired the Leaders Group meeting of the High-Level Steering Committee on Education alongside the Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), Professor Khaled El-Enany, and attended the Transforming Education Summit +4. –SAnews.gov.za