Pretoria - Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe is to lead a South African delegation to Turkey where he is expected to hold bilateral talks with Turkish Prime Minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Motlanthe will be accompanied by Defence and Military Veterans Minister Lindiwe Sisulu, Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande, Mineral Resources Minister Susan Shabangu, International Relations and Co-operation Deputy Minister, Ibrahim Ibrahim and Tourism Deputy Minister Thokozile Xasa and a business delegation. The visit is expected to take place from 24-26 May
Both South Africa and Turkey share common platforms in key multilateral institutions including as members of the G20. Turkey is currently serving as a non permanent member of the United Nations Security Council.
In a statement, the presidency said the visit will focus on the expansion and consolidation of political and economic relations; promotion of the Government's key priorities and issues of climate change.
In 2005 Turkey took a decision to make cooperation with Africa one of its foreign policy priorities. In 2008 Turkey hosted the Africa-Turkey Summit where the Istanbul Declaration was adopted.
