Riyaz Patel
International Relations Minister Naledi Pandor is in Doha, Qatar for a working visit which will also see her touch down in Iran Wednesday.
In Qatar, Pandor met with her Qatari counterpart, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, where their discussions centred on the 5th Session of the South Africa-Qatar Bilateral Consultations, and the upcoming Investment Conference to be hosted by President Ramaphosa in November.
Regional and global developments also featured on the agenda.
Pandor also paid a courtesy call on the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.
Diplomatic relations between South Africa and Qatar were established on 10 May 1994.
Following her visit to Qatar, Pandor will travel to Iran to co-chair the Ministerial Session of the 14th South Africa-Iran Joint Commission of Cooperation.
She will be joined by the Iranian Foreign Minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif.
South Africa and Iran have been conducting bilateral relations within the framework of the South Africa-Iran Joint Commission of Cooperation, established in 1995.
Political cooperation, increasing trade relations, science and innovation, as well as collaboration in the agricultural and water sectors, are expected to feature prominently in the discussion
“Over the years this Joint Commission has strengthened South Africa-Iran bilateral relations by creating an environment for more focused and well-coordinated co-operation, as demonstrated by the diverse areas of bilateral collaboration and the conclusion of several bilateral agreements,” a statement from DIRCO said.
