Two countries share one vision
SA and Belgium share a vision of achieving a mutually beneficial, flourishing trade and investment relationship and sustainable diplomatic, political, technical and scientific partnership based on information, expertise and technological exchanges that enhance the development of the two countries. There has, since 1994, been an exchange of several high level visits and developments, the highlights of which are below:
2001. Former South African President Thabo Mbeki and former Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt meet twice.
2004. A joint declaration is signed between the two countries during a visit by Mbeki to Belgium.
2006. The declaration is implemented and relations are institutionalised after the first meeting of the joint commission between the two countries in Brussels.
September 2010. President Jacob Zuma undertakes his first official trip to the European Union and Belgium, supported by the ministers of international relations and co-operation, defence, science and technology, water and environmental affairs, trade and industry, and basic education.
October-November 2010. Former deputy prime minister and minister of foreign affairs and institutional reform of the federal government of Belgium, Steven Vanackere, pays an official visit to SA. He holds bilateral discussions with minister Nkoana-Mashabane (international relations and co-operation), minister Lindiwe Sisulu (defence) and the chairperson of the parliamentary portfolio committee on international relations and co-operation.
February 2012. Mxolisi Nkosi is appointed South African ambassador to Belgium (and Luxembourg). He is also the Head of Mission to the European Union.
July 2013. Bilateral consultation takes place between minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane and her counterpart minister of foreign affairs, foreign trade and European affairs, deputy prime minister Didier Reynders. Talks focus on measures to improve trade and investment flows between SA and Belgium. Minister Reynders also meets with minister of trade and industry, Rob Davies, to discuss the deepening and expansion of SA-Belgium trade and minister of mining Susan Shabangu to discuss co-operation in the area of mineral resources. Minister Reynders also visits KwaZulu-Natal to discuss expanding co-operation to advance the province’s economic and logistical linkages with premier Dr Zweli Mkhize.
October 22-26, 2013. Her Royal Highness Princess Astrid of Belgium leads a four-day Belgian economic mission to SA.