South Africa, Indonesia to work toward essential air link

By Michael Appel

PRETORIA, South Africa - President Thabo Mbeki and his visiting Indonesian counterpart, Dr Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, have agreed that establishing an air link between the two counties will be mutually beneficial.
“One of the matters that we have agreed will facilitate cooperation is seeing how quickly we can conclude and implement an agreement on air links between the two countries,” said Mr Mbeki, speaking at the Union Buildings on Monday.

President Mbeki said it was important that people are able to move with ease between South Africa and Indonesia.
This could only add further impetus in the areas of tourism, business cooperation and economic growth, he added.
Trade between South Africa and Indonesia totaled $641.7 million in 2006, expanding by 18 percent on the previous year.
Discussions between Dr Yudhoyono and Mr Mbeki focused on the strengthening of bilateral relations between the two countries, with a focus on furthering collaboration within the sphere of multilateral institutions, said Mr Mbeki.

A number of agreements between various ministers were signed.
These included a Joint Declaration on a Strategic Partnership for a Peaceful and Prosperous Future, a framework statement on the new Asia-Africa Strategic Partnership, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Cooperative Activities in the Field of Defense, as well as an MoU on Cultural Cooperation.
“I’m very optimistic about the future cooperation between Indonesia and South Africa which will be expanded significantly especially after the signing of the Joint Declaration on a Strategic Partnership for a Peaceful and Prosperous Future.

“We have also agreed that the next Asia-Africa Summit should be held in South Africa before April next year, it is important to hold that summit following the one held in Jakarta in 2005.”
Mr Mbeki said they had also discussed the issues of capacity building in Palestine.
“We [as South Africa] expressed our appreciation for the manner in which Indonesia and South Africa are cooperating as members of the United Nations Security Council,” he said.
The Indonesian President said economically, South Africa was an advanced and fast growing country in Africa, and Indonesia was the largest economy in South East Asia.

“If we combine the potential of our two countries the benefits of cooperation the benefits will be enormous for both,” said Dr Yudhoyono.
He highlighted that trade between the two countries grew by 28 percent in 2007 in comparison to 2006, and that if both continued to harness opportunities the benefits will be great.
To build on the 28 percent increase in trade between the two countries, Mr Mbeki highlighted that it was necessary for each to expose their economies to the other and for the private sector to get involved.
Accessing the Indonesian market will further expose South African business to Asia’s rapidly expanding markets.

Indonesia and South Africa will continue to address global issues such as climate change; food and energy through the various multilateral forums that exist, said Dr Yudhoyono.
Indonesia, similar to South Africa is facing various electricity challenges, and Dr Yudhoyono said this had come as a result of rising oil and gas prices and climate change. He added that Indonesia was investing in renewable energy and reducing greenhouse gas emissions