During his visit to Brussels on the occasion of the 5th session of the South Africa-EU Summit, President Jacob Zuma held bilateral consultations with Elio Di Rupo, the Prime Minister of Belgium, on 18 September 2012.

The discussions between President Zuma and Prime Minister Di Rupo focused on deepening and expanding the bilateral ties of friendship and cooperation that happily exist between Belgium and South Africa. President Zuma and Prime Minister Di Rupo expressed their satisfaction with the dynamic cooperation in a diverse number of fields between South Africa and Belgium. They welcomed the Belgian trade mission to South Africa to be undertaken in 2013, which will be by Prince Philipe. This mission will go a long way in broadening the sectors and increasing the volume of two- way trade and investment between South Africa and Belgium.

President Zuma and Prime Minister Di Rupo also used the occasion of their meeting to exchange views on a wide range of current regional and global matters of mutual concern.

Issued by the South African Embassy in Belgium.

21 September 2012