Pretoria - Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa has arrived in Jakarta, Indonesia, ahead of Friday’s 60th anniversary celebrations of the Bandung Conference, the Presidency said on Monday.
This week, Indonesia is hosting the Asia-Africa Summit and commemorating the 1955 Bandung Conference.
The historic gathering is credited for heralding an era for Africa's independence from colonial rule and the establishment of the Non-Aligned Movement.
South Africa was represented at the 1955 Conference by ANC leaders, the late Moses Kotane and Maulvi Cachalia.
The Deputy President is representing President Jacob Zuma who cancelled his scheduled week-long visit in order to attend to domestic matters such as the attacks on foreign nationals at home.
The Deputy President is leading a South African government delegation comprising Ministers Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, Jeff Radebe, Nosiviwe Mapisa Nqakula, Rob Davies, Senzeni Zokwana, Edna Molewa and several Directors-General in a bid to boost economic relations with the south-east Asian largest economy.
While in Indonesia, Deputy President Ramaphosa is scheduled to attend the Africa-Asia Business Forum and the Africa-Asia Summit on Wednesday and Thursday.
He will also attend the 10th anniversary of the New Asia-Africa Strategic Partnership which will be held on Friday ahead of the 60th anniversary of the Bandung Conference.
Deputy President Ramaphosa is expected to return to South Africa on Saturday. - SAnews.gov.za
