Mbeki to join world leaders at G-8 Summit

The South African President has been invited to the G-8 Summit as a Strategic Outreach Partner.

South African President Thabo Mbeki will join other world leaders at the G-8 Summit in St Petersburg in Russia on July 16 and 17, a Foreign Office spokesman said.

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"President Mbeki's participation in the G-8 Summit comes within the context of South Africa's commitment to promote North-South co-operation in support of the African Agenda through, among others, the G-8," he said on Wednesday.

Mbeki, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and leaders of Brazil, Mexico and China have been invited to the G-8 Summit as Strategic Outreach Partners and will participate in a round table discussion on July 17.

"In addition, Mbeki and the Strategic Outreach Partners will also hold discussions on the margins of the G-8 Summit with a view to strengthening South-South co-operation and consolidating the development agenda of the South," the spokesman said.

The Chairperson of the African Union, President Denis Sassou Nguesso, and Khazakstan in its capacity as Chair of the Commonwealth of Independent States have also been invited to participate in the Outreach segment of the Summit.

The Secretary-General of the United Nations, Kofi Annan, and representatives of the various international organisations including the World Bank, UNESCO, the International Atomic Energy Agency, the World Health Organization and the International Energy Agency are also expected to participate in the 2006 Outreach Meeting.

The 2006 G-8 Outreach Segment is expected to look at: International Energy Security; Education; and Infectious diseases.

In addition discussions will also focus on: International trade; and a presentation on Africa, the spokesman said.