DIRCO Annual Report

South-South relations strengthened and consolidated in advancement of national and continental priorities South Africa remained committed to South-South cooperation and used its engagements with identified countries to the benefit of South Africa and the African continent. South Africa’s participation in Brazil​, Russia, India, China, and South Africa (BRICS) continues to emphasise concrete cooperation that contributes both directly and indirectly to the priorities of a better South Africa, a better Africa, and a better world. South Africa, as a founding member of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), continues to view this organisation as an important platform for the implementation of our economic diplomacy objectives, as well as for the advancement of our foreign policy, which upholds the importance of multilateralism and global collaboration in resolving challenges. The IBSA (India, Brazil, South Africa) Dialogue Forum has provided an important value-driven mechanism for South Africa to address historical inequalities and imbalances, to safeguard and advance mutual political, economic and social interests, common positions and shared values in the pursuit of a just and equitable developmental agenda and global order. Relations with the North leveraged in advancement of national and continental priorities The 14th South Africa-European Union (EU) Ministerial Political Dialogue (MPD) was held virtually on 14 July 2020 in Brussels, Belgium, during which a range of issues relating to further enhancing the South Africa-EU Strategic Partnership within the challenging context of the COVID-19 pandemic and its political and socio-economic impact on South Africa and the EU, were discussed. Both parties highlighted the need for enhancing two-way trade and boosting investment cooperation under existing bilateral and multilateral frameworks, as well as to develop resilient and sustainable regional and bilateral value chains in sectors with growth potential. The importance to harness continued support for South Africa on development cooperation, aligned to the NDP with the focus on addressing the triple challenges of unemployment, poverty and inequality, was raised, as well as the importance of a just transition within the South African economy. Both parties reaffirmed the mutual goal of strengthening the rules-based international order, human rights, universal values and multilateralism.

an equitable and timely access to the COVID-19 vaccine for all AU member states, which will require additional mechanisms to ensure at least 60% of the continent’s population is vaccinated.

The planned back-to-back 13th and 14th extraordinary summits on the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and on Silencing the Guns in Africa were postponed and eventually held virtually on 5 and 6 December 2020, respectively. The objectives of both summits were achieved. The commencement of trading under the AfCFTA on 1 January 2021 signals a concrete achievement under the South African leadership, which will significantly boost African economic development for many decades to come. On Silencing the Guns, the introduction of periodic reviews every two years was also a major achievement that will ensure that the heads of state and government actively monitor the resolution of conflicts on the continent.

Department of International Relations and Cooperation

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