Strengthening ASEAN - SA relations

9 November 2018

Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ms Reginah Mhaule received a courtesy call from the Heads of Mission of the Asean Pretoria Committee (APC), led by the Chair Mr Nizan Mohamad, and presented a cash donation in conjuction with the Centenary of Nelson Mandela.

Photo:  Chad Jacinto - Consul at Philippines Embassy, Ambassador U Myint Swe of Myanmar, Ambassador Salman Al Farisi of Indonesia, High Commissioner Mohamad Nizan Mohamad of Malaysia, Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Ms Reginah Mhaule, High Commissioner Thai-Keong Chua of Singapore, Ambassador Vu Van Dzung of Vietnam and Ambassador Komate Kamalanavin of Thailand (Yandisa Monakali - DIRCO)

The ASEAN Heads of Mission thanked Dirco for their continued engagement and emphasized the importance of ASEAN - South Africa relations and hoped for the strenthening of these ties going forward.

High Commissioner Thai-Keong Chua of Singapore congratulated South Africa for a successful Mandela Day at the UN where Singapore's Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan in his address said that Madiba not only changed South Africa, he also changed the world, quoting Madiba, "Vision without action is just a dream, action without vision just passes the time, and vision with action can change the world."

Madiba made many visits to ASEAN and strengthened the ties between ASEAN and Africa. Madiba rekindled old ties that went back to colonial times where Southeast Asians were brought to Africa but he also chartered a course forward to peace and reconciliation, diversity and tolerance, openness and cooperation.

Minister Balakrishnan concluded that the wise words of Madiba would continue to inspire citizens of ASEAN in the years to come quoting Madiba, “What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead.”