Mar 11, 2007, 16:07 GMT
Johannesburg - South African President Thabo Mbeki is scheduled to lead a high-level political and business delegation on a two-day trip to Saudi Arabia later this week.
Mbeki will be accompanied by Foreign Minister Nkosazana Dlamini- Zuma, Defence Minister Mosiuoa Lekota and Trade and Industry Minister Mandisi Mphahlwa among other senior government officials.
Mbeki will hold talks with King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz al-Saud on issues including the situation in the Middle East, Iraq, Iran and African Union peacekeeping missions.
The visit from March 13 to 14 is also aimed at increasing trade and investment between the two countries, a statement from the foreign ministry in Pretoria said.
Representatives from 34 South African companies in the mining, construction, telecommunications and financial services sectors will be accompanying the president on his visit.
Total trade between South Africa and Saudi Arabia amounted to 23.8 billion rand (3.3 billion dollars) between January and November 2006. Saudi exports to South Africa, composed mostly of crude oil, accounted for the lion's share, at 21.4 billion rand.
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