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Johannesburg, South Africa (PANA) - South African President Thabo Mbeki begins a two-day State visit to Mozambique Thursday for talks on bilateral and regional issues with his counterpart Joachim Chissano, South African officials said Wednesday.
With regional trading blocs developing, South Africa has overtaken Portugal as the largest foreign investor in Mozambique, while Mozambique has taken over from Zimbabwe as South Africa's major African trading partner.
South African investment in Mozambique, estimated at nine billion rand could double in the next few years, said Deputy Foreign Minister Aziz Pahad during a media briefing Wednesday.
Mbeki's visit is under the framework of the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD), he said, adding: "As South Africa becomes the first chairman of the African Union it will be incumbent on us to set the tone for the launching of NEPAD".
Pahad said Mbeki would focus on long-standing conflicts in the DR Congo and Angola, where the prospects of peace appear promising.
"We will have to deal with all the conflicts and we will have to work much closer with SADC (Southern African Development Community) partners to ensure that we can carry out the region's responsibilities to the new AU," he said.
Mbeki will also discuss joint SADC projects to kick-start the NEPAD partnership, Pahad said, noting: "NEPAD is going to function in relation to the various trade blocs and each ...