The Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Mr Alvin Botes, held Political Consultations with the Deputy Foreign Minister for non-European Countries and Economic Diplomacy of Czech Republic, Mr Martin Tlapa.
The Political Consultations took place as countries across the world are forging means of re-engaging internationally following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. South Africa is also looking at re-engaging international partners in pursuit of the priorities of the Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan, which seeks to inject much-needed growth in our country’s economy.
The Consultations enabled both countries to further strengthen their bilateral political and economic relations and afforded South Africa an opportunity to advance the Government’s priorities as identified in the National Development Plan as well as the African Union’s Agenda 2063.
The meeting also looked at possible areas of bilateral co-operation in trade and investment, defence co-operation, tourism as well as science and technology, with a focus on applied research and innovation.
Bilateral relations between South Africa and the Czech Republic have evolved to a level of maturity, underpinned by increasing commercial and business-to-business activity, as well as people-to-people exchanges.
Since the establishment of diplomatic relations, the two countries have concluded agreements in several areas of mutual interests.