Fundamental to our approach is the spirit and practice of partnership. This is the principal reason for our achievements so far. It is what gives us confidence in the future - our experience has shown us that negotiated solutions can be found to even the most difficult problems. Naturally there are differences of emphasis and approach amongst social forces such as government, business and labour. But what matters is the shared commitment to resolve differences when they do arise, and the firm intention government to maintain the policies which have brought us success thus far.
Partnership extends to the all-important area of infrastructural development.
That includes transport and communications infrastructure as well as the municipal infrastructure needed to provide services to our people. It includes also the far-reaching development of regional infrastructure that is central to the building of the Southern African Development Community into a thriving market of 150 million people. In just three years from 1993 to 1996 trade between Indonesia and South Africa grew grown four-fold. All of us, I believe, would acknowledge that this rapid expansion was simply the result of the great potential and immense goodwill that exists, rather than the product of any well-planned or concerted effort by our two governments. The agreement signed today for the avoidance of double taxation, and further agreements under discussion, show that our two governments are in earnest about creating an environment for the flourishing of our economic relationship.