ASEAN Secretary General Le Luong Minh has expressed his hope for strengthened ties between ASEAN and South Africa, as well as between the bloc and the African Union and the Southern African Development Community.
He made the remark while meeting with South African Ambassador to ASEAN Pakamisa Augustine Sifuba recently, who presented his letter of credence.
As ASEAN is pushing ahead to build its community in 2015, the expansion of its external relations with new and emerging partners - especially countries and organisations from Africa and Latin America - is also high on the grouping’s agenda, he noted.
Ambassador Sifuba expressed South Africa ’s keen interest in further exploring cooperation with ASEAN in areas of mutual interest such as trade, investment, people-to-people contacts, South-South cooperation, and the sharing of experience in regional economic integration.
On this occasion, Secretary General Minh and Ambassador Sifuba discussed international and regional issues of common concern, including the United Nations (UN) reform and international efforts to promote non-proliferation.
They underlined the importance of maintaining peace and stability to create a conducive environment for development in the two regions, as well as enhancing coordination in wider international forums such as the UN and the G-20.
Sifuba succeeded Noel N. Lehoko, who finished his tenure as South African Ambassador to ASEAN in December 2013.-VNA
He made the remark while meeting with South African Ambassador to ASEAN Pakamisa Augustine Sifuba recently, who presented his letter of credence.
As ASEAN is pushing ahead to build its community in 2015, the expansion of its external relations with new and emerging partners - especially countries and organisations from Africa and Latin America - is also high on the grouping’s agenda, he noted.
Ambassador Sifuba expressed South Africa ’s keen interest in further exploring cooperation with ASEAN in areas of mutual interest such as trade, investment, people-to-people contacts, South-South cooperation, and the sharing of experience in regional economic integration.
On this occasion, Secretary General Minh and Ambassador Sifuba discussed international and regional issues of common concern, including the United Nations (UN) reform and international efforts to promote non-proliferation.
They underlined the importance of maintaining peace and stability to create a conducive environment for development in the two regions, as well as enhancing coordination in wider international forums such as the UN and the G-20.
Sifuba succeeded Noel N. Lehoko, who finished his tenure as South African Ambassador to ASEAN in December 2013.-VNA
