by TINTSWALO BALOYI
JOHANNESBURG – DESPITE the two countries’ long standing cooperation, Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen, is the first head of state from that nation to visit South Africa.
The first such visit was on Friday, when his counterpart, Cyril Ramaphosa, hosted him.
The two countries have signed two memoranda of understanding (MoU) on consular affairs and technical vocational education, plus shared exchanges on the impact of geopolitical events.
“We affirmed the importance of multilateralism as we strive to realise a world free from conflict and war,” Ramaphosa briefed the media after the meeting.
“We share the belief that the institutions of global governance, and particularly the United Nations Security Council, must be reformed to meet the challenges and realities of the world today.”
Ramaphosa said he and Van der Bellen took this opportunity to discuss the theme South Africa has chosen for the country’s G20 Presidency.
It will be held under the theme,”Solidarity, Equality and Sustainability.”
“It envisages a world order in which every person, every community and every country has equal opportunity to progress and to thrive,” Ramaphosa. said.
Delegations from the two countries are scheduled to explore avenues for deepening cooperation and bilateral investments and trade.
– CAJ News
