According to the program, his local counterpart, Cyril Ramaphosa, will officially receive him on the 4th at the Government Palace (Union Buildings) in Pretoria.

The state visit, according to a brief statement issued by the South African presidency, represents an opportunity to consolidate the “solid and lasting” relationship between South Africa and Austria, particularly in the fields of arts and culture, higher education, renewable energies, trade and investment, and waste management.

The two nations maintain cordial and cooperative bilateral relations based on mutual respect, shared values of multilateralism and growing economic and cultural exchanges.

Although geographically distant and with significant differences in size and economic structure, the text adds, the two nations have found common ground in international cooperation, trade and sustainable development.

President Ramaphosa and his peer Van der Bellen will also address a plenary session of the bilateral Business Forum during the afternoon of the 4th.

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