ISLAMABAD, MARCH 13, SPA -- Foreign Secretary of the South African Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr. Ayanda Ntsaluba has met Foreign Minister Khurshid M. Kasuri, says an official statement. The two sides recalled their long association with the people of South Africa in the struggle for freedom and were looking forward to a dynamic new phase of relations between Pakistan and South Africa. Kasuri emphasized the need for high-level visits for setting new directions in bilateral relations. He expressed the hope that the inaugural session of the Joint Commission will strengthen economic and trade ties between the two countries and help promote joint ventures in diverse areas. Kasuri briefed the South African Foreign Secretary about the progress in the composite dialogue process with India aimed at addressing all outstanding issues including the issue of Jammu and Kashmir. Before that, the fist session of the Bilateral Political Consultations was held between Foreign Secretary Riaz Mohammad Khan and Dr. Ntsaluba. Dr. Ntsaluba is leading a strong South African delegation to the inaugural meeting of the Pak-South African Joint Commission. The bilateral consultations and Joint Commission meeting were held under the framework of a letter of understanding signed between the two countries in 1990. The two Foreign Secretaries deliberated on a broad spectrum of bilateral as well as regional and international issues of concerns and interest to the two countries. On the regional and international plane Khan briefed Dr. Ntsaluba on the evolving developments in Pakistan s neighbourhood, including the process of composite dialogue with India and the central issue of Kashmir in Pakistan s relation with India and the situation on Pakistan s western border with Afghanistan. The discussions also focused on the situation on Middle East, the Palestinian issue, the growing violence and instability in Iraq, the conflict in Somalia, the situation in Darfur, and the global phenomenon of terrorism and Pakistan s efforts in the fight against the scourge of terrorism. Both sides agreed that there was a need to increase bilateral interaction between the two sides by means of high level, ministerial and working level visits to further strengthen the relations. The next round of political consultations will be scheduled in Pretoria at a time of mutual convenience between the two sides.--SPA www.spa.gov.sa/432325