Media Statement
23 August 2021
Minister Pandor to host the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, Dr AK Abdul Momen, during an Official Visit to South Africa from 22 – 25 August 2021
The Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Dr Naledi Pandor, will host the Foreign Minister of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, Dr AK Abdul Momen, during an Official Visit to South Africa from 22-25 August 2021.
The two Ministers will hold the official talks at 10h00 at the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO), O.R. Tambo Building, 460 Soutspansberg Road, Rietondale, Pretoria.
South Africa attaches great importance to its relationship with Bangladesh, which is underpinned by historic bonds of solidarity, friendship, and cooperation. Diplomatic relations were established on 10 September 1994 and 25 years of diplomatic relations were celebrated in September 2019.
The visit takes place during a significant year for Bangladesh, as the country celebrated in March its Golden Jubilee Anniversary of Independence that coincided with the celebration of the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
The bilateral relations between the two countries is conducted within the framework of a Senior Officials Meeting which meets on an annual basis; the last session was held in Dhaka, Bangladesh in September 2019. Given the new challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, the official visit allows the two Ministers to assess the current state of the bilateral relations between the two countries to calibrate the existing relations to adapt challenges brought about by an ever-changing international environment.
Both South Africa and Bangladesh share a common vision on a range of global issues anchored in the joint advance of the development agenda of the countries of the Global South and represented in multilateral fora such as the UN, the G77 plus China, Commonwealth, Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) and the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA). Bangladesh will assume the IORA Chairship in November 2021.
The meeting will encompass, amongst others, a review of bilateral agreements, technical cooperation, trade and economic cooperation, energy, agriculture, women’s economic empowerment, exchange of information on efforts to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, regional and multilateral developments.
Enquiries: Mr Clayson Monyela, Spokesperson for DIRCO, 082 884 5974
ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND COOPERATION
OR Tambo Building
460 Soutpansberg Road
Rietondale
Pretoria
0084