Secretary-General visits South Africa, holds talks with President Zuma

Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma, on a three-day visit of South Africa, met President Jacob Zuma on Tuesday 27 October 2009 for talks centred on the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) due to be held in Trinidad and Tobago next month.

Mr Sharma briefed President Zuma on a range of issues on the provisional agenda of CHOGM, including climate change – a topical issue leaders would deliberate upon in the lead up to the global summit on climate change in Copenhagen, a week after CHOGM. Mr Sharma said the Commonwealth had started a programme to assist member states build capacity in climate change negotiations in the same way it already did in respect to trade.

President Zuma said it was important for Commonwealth leaders to discuss and agree on practical action on climate change at their Port of Spain meeting. He also looks forward to greater Commonwealth involvement and contribution to contemporary global issues.

Ms Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, Minister for International Relations and Cooperation, as well as senior officials of government also attended the meeting.

Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma with students at the University of Cape Town

Mr Sharma also briefed the President about the proposed Commonwealth Internet gateway, the Commonwealth Partnership Platform Portal, which will be introduced to leaders in Port of Spain. Mr Sharma sees the portal as a practical way of implementing the CHOGM theme which places a high premium on partnerships. H

e also expects the portal to expand the organisation’s reach and impact.

Mr Sharma also spoke about a new network for election management bodies, which is a peer group that will assist member states to adhere to best practises in election management.

Earlier, on Monday 26 October 2009, the Secretary-General met Athol Trollip, the opposition Democratic Alliance parliamentary leader and discussed Commonwealth work in advancing healthy democratic practice in member states including organising regional workshops on the relationship between Government and Opposition parties.

The Secretary-General also met with students of International Relations at the University of Cape Town where he attended a 'Commonwealth Conversation' event.

Key Links:

• Country Profile: South Africa
• Secretary-General