Asean, S Africa To Further Explore Coop In Various Fields

Jakarta, Oct 24 (Antara) - New South African Ambassador to ASEAN Pakamisa Augustine Sifuba has expressed the keen interest of South Africa in further exploring cooperation with ASEAN in areas of mutual interest such as trade, investment, people-to-people contacts, and South-South cooperation. ASEAN and the African Union (EU) should take more concrete steps to strengthen the existing ties, especially through the sharing of experience in regional economic integration, Sifuba said when presenting his Letter of Credence to ASEAN Secretary General Le Luong Minh at the ASEAN Secretariat, here, recently. Minh congratulated Ambassador Sifuba on his assumption of office and looked forward to strengthen the relations between ASEAN and South Africa, as well as between ASEAN and AU and the Southern African Development Community (SADC). He stressed that as ASEAN is pushing ahead to achieve ASEAN Community by 2015, the expansion of ASEAN`s external relations to new and emerging partners - especially countries and organisations from Africa and Latin America - is also high on ASEAN`s agenda. Minh and Ambassador Sifuba also discussed international and regional issues of common concern, including reform of the United Nations (UN) and international efforts to promote non-proliferation. They both 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 fora such as the UN and the G-20. Ambassador Sifuba succeeded Dr. Noel N. Lehoko, who relinquished his tenure as Ambassador of South Africa to ASEAN on 22 December 2013.