PRETORIA-South African International Relations and C-ooperation Minister Lindiwe Sisulu will host a media briefing with Didier Reynders, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Affairs of Belgium after holding bilateral talks heere Monday.

Reynders is on a working visit to South Africa.

South Africa and Belgium are on a mission to expand and strengthen bilateral relations, revitalise economic relations with a focus on trade, foreign direct investment and tourism. The two countries want to enhance co-operation as they assume their non-permanent seats in the United Nations Security Council for the period 2019 to 2020.

In a meeting prior to the briefing, the two Ministers will exchange views on issues of mutual interest, such as the fight against racism, human rights, migration, climate and ecological changes.

Belgian ports are important entry points through which South African exports find their way to European countries and beyond. The balance of trade is currently in South Africa’s favour. Exports to Belgium in 2017 amounted to 33.5 billion Rand (about 2.19 billion US dollars), while imports accounted for 12.2 billion Rand.

Exports include precious stones and manufactured goods such as vehicles, organic chemicals, iron and steel.

Belgium is one of the main sources of inbound tourism from Europe to South Africa, with about 54,000 Belgian tourists visiting South Africa during 2017.

Source: NAM NEWS NETWORK