Cape Town – President Jacob Zuma has arrived in Sri Lanka on Friday for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, Deputy International Relations Minister Ebrahim Ebrahim said.

He said foreign ministers and heads of state would form partnerships and focus on how to make economic growth more inclusive and sustainable.

South Africa’s position was underpinned by the National Development Plan, which aimed to eradicate poverty and inequality by 2030.

Next Thursday, Zuma would host Botswana President Seretse Khama Ian Khama in South Africa for an inaugural bi-national commission.

“The objective of the visit is to strengthen and deepen the existing historical and fraternal relations that exist between South Africa and Botswana,” Ebrahim said.

Botswana imported many of its commodities from South Africa.

South African companies were also involved in housing, food and beverages, construction, retail, hotels and leisure, banking and medical services in Botswana.

Ebrahim said Zuma would then travel to Ghana on 26 and 27 November for his first state visit to the country since becoming president.

Three memorandums of understanding would be signed on transport, air services, and electricity.

The SA-Ghana Business Forum would take place at the same time, Ebrahim said.

At the beginning of the month, Ebrahim visited North Korea to hold political consultations and review the 15-year-old bilateral relation between the two countries.

“During the engagements, we shared South Africa’s experience of de-nuclearisation, highlighting the great benefits that accrued to South Africa from the decision to dismantle its nuclear weapons in 1994,” he said.

“In this regard, we also related our experience of resolving conflict through negotiations and dialogue, and encouraged the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to resume participation in the six-party talks at the earliest opportunity.”

– SAPA