MINSK, 7 December (BelTA) - Belarus Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Andrei Dapkiunas met with Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of South Africa to the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus (non-resident) Nomasonto Maria Sibanda-Thusi to discuss further development of cooperation in Minsk on 7 December, BelTA learned from the press service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Ambassador of South Africa Nomasonto Maria Sibanda-Thusi has repeatedly visited Belarus and is one of the most active non-resident African ambassadors accredited in Belarus,.
During the meeting the parties reviewed the status and prospects for the gradual development of bilateral relations. In January-October 2018 the trade between the two countries rose by two thirds. This was largely facilitated by the meeting of the Belarus-South African Intergovernmental Committee on Trade and Economic Cooperation (ITEC), which was held in Pretoria in March 2018. In this regard, the Deputy Minister and the Ambassador discussed preparations for the next meeting of the Intergovernmental Committee, which is scheduled for early 2019 in Minsk.
Andrei Dapkiunas and Nomasonto Maria Sibanda-Thusi highlighted the importance of actively promoting direct business contacts and examined possible forms of such assistance through The Belarus-Africa cooperation forum and thematic industrial and agricultural exhibitions.
The Belarusian and South African diplomats also raised the issues of expanding cooperation in the field of education, creating favorable conditions for tourism and human exchanges, developing interregional ties between Free State and Mpumalanga provinces of South Africa and Minsk Oblast and Mogilev Oblast of Belarus. Another item on the agenda of the meeting was the possibility to accelerate the joint work on mutual abolition of visas for ordinary passport holders.
The diplomats confirmed the intention of Belarus and South Africa to further strengthen cooperation and friendly interaction in international organizations on the principles of mutual respect and support.
