Hon Speaker, many opportunities were created during our state visit to Brazil last year. The state visit served to strengthen the existing sound relations between the two countries. The reciprocal visit by His Excellency President Lula da Silva in July this year further cemented our relations. The two countries have ongoing co- operation in the areas of social development, trade and industry, health, education, science and technology, governance and energy, to mention just a few.
The two countries also have in place a memorandum of understanding on trade co-operation in an effort to lower tariff and nontariff barriers. This will enable us to further reach our goals of opening the Brazilian market for better access for our products and services. This speaks to our strategic priority of creating better quality lives and decent work through improved export opportunities.
The state visit also allowed the two countries to take relations forward at the level of India-Brazil-South Africa Forum, which enables us to advance South-South co-operation. During the two visits, we also undertook to make available to Brazil any assistance relating to expertise gained during the 2010 Fifa Soccer World Cup, as they will be hosting the tournament in the year 2014. The visit to the Russian Federation put a strong emphasis on bilateral co- operation as well as economic and trade issues. We discussed and agreed to develop concrete joint ventures, particularly in the energy, mining and agricultural sectors.
Amongst the key issues that were addressed were access for South African meat products to the Russian market, Russian anti-dumping penalties on South African steel exports, as well as other trade matters. Some of the agreements signed included an agreement on visa exemption for diplomatic, official and service passports to promote people-to-people co-operation and co-operation amongst space agencies of the two countries.
There was also the signing of a contract between Eskom and Tenex to supply nuclear fuel to South Africa, which contributes to the imperative of a reliable and stable energy supply. The visit also focused on international development issues such as meeting the Millennium Development Goals, reform of the global financial architecture, and South Africa's wish to join the Brazil-Russia-China formation called Bric.
During our state visit to China, the two countries signed the Declaration on the Establishment of a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. The Vice President of China, Mr Xi Jinping, was this week hosted by our Deputy President, hon Kgalema Motlanthe; an indication of strong ties between the two countries. This week's visit served to concretise and put into action many of the agreements reached during the August state visit, using the South Africa-China Bi-National Commission as a mechanism.
During our visit to China, we agreed to focus on working towards more balanced trade. The two countries also undertook to provide mutual technical support in the areas of the green economy, skills development and industrial financing.
Sixteen private sector contracts were also signed between local and Chinese companies. The private sectors of both countries were encouraged to explore co-operation opportunities in infrastructure construction projects such as roads, ports, power generation, airports and housing. China has also committed itself to support - within the Nepad context - the North-South infrastructure development corridor which South Africa is championing.
The visit was also used to co-ordinate and align the positions of South Africa and China on international issues, particularly with regard to the G20, climate change, reform of the United Nations system and the Bric Forum.
The 16th of November marked the 150th anniversary of the arrival of the Indian community in the country, which was the beginning of the strong ties between India and South Africa. The state visit to India succeeded in further strengthening the strong bilateral relations that both countries share, at cultural, economic, political and social levels. The two countries agreed to work towards increasing bilateral trade to at least $12 billion per annum by 2012.
The business forum of the two countries met in Johannesburg following the state visit, taking forward the agreements reached at the level of trade relations. The two countries will also co-operate on education and skills development, something which bodes well for South Africa's human resource development needs.
South Africa is working closely within the UN and the Ibsa Forum to promote a new world order, as well as to ensure that the voice of the developing world is heard and carries weight with regard to development issues. The world we live in today has changed significantly since the end of the Cold War. The countries of the South such as Brazil, India and China are rising and are challenging the global economic landscape.
We want to take advantage of these new developments, while also working to enhance existing relations with the developed North, the United States, the European Union and other regions. We also use international forums to promote the reform of international financial institutions to ensure the participation of Africa and the developing world in decision-making. We also work towards more equitable trade relations in the world, hence the call for the Doha Round to be concluded in a manner that enhances development and does not perpetuate global inequalities. Thank you. [Applause.]