Pretoria - President Jacob Zuma will travel to Asia next week for two crucial meetings - one focusing on security and the other on consolidating South Africa's trade interests.
According to the Presidency, Zuma will travel to Seoul, Republic of Korea, on Monday to participate in the two-day Nuclear Security Summit, which is a follow-up to talks held in Washington in April 2010.
"The main purpose of the Seoul Nuclear Security Summit is to review the progress made since the first summit and to focus on facilitating national measures and international co-operation on nuclear security," said the Presidency.
The summit takes place within the context of the commitment to achieve a world free from all weapons of mass destruction, including nuclear weapons.
It provides a forum to raise awareness and to support the work of existing bodies on nuclear security, especially the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
During his visit to Seoul, President Zuma will hold bilateral talks with his counterparts, including President Lee Myung-bak from the Republic of Korea, on issues of mutual interest.
Zuma will then travel to Delhi, India, for the 4th BRICS Summit, which will be held on 28 and 29 March. This will be the second time that South Africa attends the summit after its admission to the bloc. South Africa's debut was at the BRICS Summit held in Sanya, Hainan Island, China, in 2011.
The Presidency said this year's summit will focus on global governance matters, which include the global economy and global peace and security.
"The summit will also focus on sustainable development matters, which include climate change. South Africa will take advantage of the BRICS Summit to advance the African Agenda, seek support from BRICS partners for NEPAD infrastructure development and industrialisation initiatives on the African continent, and advocate for reform of global governance institutions."
