Republic of Botswana
Telegrams: DEFA Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Telephone : 3600700 and international cooperation
Telex : 2414 BD Private Bag 00368
Fax : 3913366 Gaborone
PRESS RELEASE
INAUGURAL SESSION OF THE BI- NATIONAL COMMISSION BETWEEN THE REPUBLIC OF BOTSWANA AND
THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA
Gaborone 20 November 2013:The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation wishes to inform that on 20th November 2013, His Excellency Lieutenant General Seretse Khama Ian Khama, President of the Republic of Botswana, will lead a delegation of six Cabinet Ministers and Senior Government Officials to Pretoria, South Africa, to attend the Inaugural Session of the Bi-National Commission (BNC) between the Republic of Botswana and the Republic of South Africa. The Summit segment is scheduled for 21 November, 2013.
The agreement establishing the BNC was signed during the reciprocal State Visit to Botswana by President Jacob Zuma in August, 2012. The BNC is a cooperation platform which elevates existing cooperation mechanisms, that is, the Joint Permanent Commission for Cooperation and the Joint Permanent Commission on Defence and Security, to the highest political level.
His Excellency the President will be accompanied by Honourable Ministers of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation; Labour and Home Affairs; Minerals, Energy and Water Resources; Trade and Industry; Transport and Communications; and the acting Minister of Defense, Justice and Security.
On 21 November 2013, before convening the BNC, President Khama and President Zuma will hold Tete-a-Tete discussions on issues of mutual interest, which include inter alia, Trade, Energy, Transport, Defence, Security, Agriculture, Home Affairs, Science and Technology.
The Summit will be preceded by a Ministerial Meeting on 20 November 2013 and a Senior Officials Meeting on 18-19 November, 2013.
His Excellency the President and his delegation are expected back in Botswana on 21 November, 2013.
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