South Africa and Uruguay successfully hosted the Inaugural Meeting of the Bilateral Consultations Mechanism (BCM) on 31 May 2022. The meeting was co-chaired by the Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation of the Republic of South Africa, Mr. Alvin Botes, and the Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Oriental Republic of Uruguay, Ms Carolina Ache Batlle.
Importantly, the co-chairs noted that the shared values of a commitment to democracy, human rights, peaceful resolution of conflicts, sustainable development and multilateralism provide a solid foundation for strengthening of the sound and cordial relations between the two countries.
The Parties noted that the Memorandum of Understanding establishing the Bilateral Consultation Mechanism (BCM) in 2015 and the inaugural meeting of the BCM will give momentum to SA-Uruguay relations and determine priorities for bilateral and multilateral cooperation for the mutual benefit of both countries.
The Parties further noted that the meeting took place amid the COVID-19 pandemic, which has presented the global community with unprecedented health and socio-economic challenges. The parties stressed the importance of global solidarity and a coordinated global response to these challenges through bilateral, regional, and multilateral cooperation.
During the meeting, the Parties agreed that both countries share numerous strategic priorities, such as equitable and sustainable growth and competitiveness of their economies to overcome challenges of poverty, unemployment and inequality and to enhance the competitiveness of their economies.
The parties agreed to strengthen cooperation in the following sectors: agribusiness, defence and defence industries, minerals and energy (especially renewable energy), social development, sport, software development, and trade and investment.
On agribusiness, the parties agreed to facilitate trade, investment and technical cooperation.
On defence and defence industries,…