afrol News, 16 February - South Africa and Spain are to hold cooperation discussions this week, which could including political and economic pacts.

The government news agency reported today that the deputy minister of Foreign Affairs Sue van der Merwe is in Spain where she is expected to hold political, economic and trade discussions with Spanish Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs Angel Lossada.

The agency said the discussions will be within the context of South Africa's priority to consolidate the North-South relations, adding that issues on the agenda are expected to include,a briefing regarding developments in the European Union on the impact of the global financial crisis and ways it would be addressed as well as the African peace and security matters.

The government agency further said, while in Spain, the SA deputy minister is also expected to hold discussions with Minister for Interior Alfredo Perez Rubalcaba, the Secretary General of Spanish International Co-operation Agency (AECI) and the President of the Royal Spanish Football Federation.

It reported that Ms van der Merwe will also address Casa Africa before returning home on Thursday.

According to data from South Africa, Spain is the 9th most important export market for Southern African economic giant, with the 2007 exports to Spain said to have totalled Euro 1.5 billion. South Africa's main exports were coal, fish, fresh fruits, iron and steel products, mechanical appliances and automotive parts and accessories.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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