Zuma meets SA diplomats

By Khanyisa Tabata
15 August 2009

President Jacob Zuma met with South African Heads of Mission with other cabinet ministers.

The meeting between Zuma and Heads of Mission was to sharpen South Africa’s international relation policy as well as discuss a range of national and international issues.
International Relations Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane briefed the Heads of Mission on Thursday and addressed them on the developments and the direction the country will take, with regard to international relations.

It is reported that Nkoana-Mashabane said that Heads of Missions and other colleagues deployed to the Missions are the link with the world – you are our ears and voices.

Your ears provide us with invaluable advice to guide our foreign policy. Also, what you say about our country is our voice to our partners in the world, she told the conference Nkoana- Mashabane added.

For the next five years, government has identified six foreign policy priorities and hopes that the mission will also play a role in realising these goals.

These priorities include improving the political and economic integration of the SADC; the continued prioritisation of the African continent and the strengthening of South-South relations.

It will further intensify strategic relations with strategic formations of the North; strengthen political and economic relations and participate in the Global System of Governance.