Deputy Minister Botes to travel to Russia and Belarus for Political Consultations

10 December 2023

The Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Mr Alvin Botes, will, from 11-14 December 2023, undertake a Working Visit to Russia and Belarus. The purpose of the Working Visit to Eastern Europe is for Political Consultations at the Deputy Minister level.

Russia

South Africa and Russia enjoy excellent bilateral relations at a strategic level, bilaterally and in the multilateral sphere. The Working Visit to Russia will be an opportunity for both countries to focus their efforts on deepening these ties, especially in the area of economic cooperation where considerable progress is being made but has not yet reached the level of political relations.

During the visit of HE Minister Lavrov to South Africa in January 2023, it was agreed that Political Consultations between South Africa and the Russian Federation should take place at the level of Deputy Ministers. This meeting between Deputy Minister Botes and Deputy Minister Bogdanov will form the First Round of Political Consultations following the commitment made during the visit of Minister Lavrov.

South Africa’s bilateral relations with the Russian Federation are informed by political, economic, social, defence, and security cooperation and all the relevant legal instruments and mechanisms that affirm the strategic relationship between the two countries.

Efforts are being made to strengthen economic relations through structures such as the Intergovernmental Committee on Trade and Economic Cooperation (ITEC). The Deputy Ministers will review the progress of work of the 17th ITEC since its last meeting in March 2023, which includes a number of government departments from the economic cluster.

As part of the visit to Moscow, the Deputy Minister will meet with SADC Heads of Mission in Moscow.

Belarus

South Africa and Belarus commemorated 30 years of diplomatic relations in March 2023. The purpose of Deputy Minister Botes’ visit is to conduct the Fourth Round of Political Consultations. The Political Consultations are guided by the Protocol on Cooperation between the two countries signed in 2000.

In addition to the Fourth Round of Political Consultations, Deputy Minister Botes will pay a courtesy call on HE Minister Sergei Aleinik.

The Deputy Minister will also meet with the Director-General of the National Centre for Marketing and Price Study of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, meet with the Belarussian Chamber of Commerce as well as pay a visit to Minsk Tractor Works, to strengthen the economic and people-to-people relations that exist between the two countries.

Statement issued by Dirco, 9 December 2023