Jamaica hosts AU, Caribbean Diaspora conference

Johannesburg, South Africa (PANA) - The Caribbean Diaspora conference jointly organised by the South African government, the Jamaican government and the African Union intended to create linkages between Africa and the Diaspora begins Wednesday in Kingston.

According to the department of Foreign Affairs in Pretoria, over 250 participants are expected to attend the three-day conference under the theme: "Towards Unity and United Action by Africans and the African Diaspora in the Caribbean for a Better World".

The conference will discuss, among other issues, how to strengthen partnerships and co-operation between the peoples of the two regions, and the establishment of mechanisms for building stronger political and economic relations between Africa and the Caribbean.

Other agenda items include the identification of new opportunities for future collaboration that can bring mutual benefit in the political, economic and socio-cultural spheres; development of a common agenda for confronting common problems that afflict Africa and the Caribbean, and how to give concrete meaning to decisions of the African Union on the African Diaspora.

Participants hope to derive concrete proposals from the conference on economic and trade links in specific areas that will enable them to embark on collaborative programmes in common areas of interests, as well as commitment to solidarity and mutual support in international fora.

The conference also expects to come out with proposals on the institutionalisation of the Africa-Caribbean cooperation and collaboration among government and civil society; and the development of a common agenda for collaboration with the view to furthering the objectives of the African Union.

According to Foreign Affairs spokesperson Ronnie Mamoepa, South African Foreign Minister Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma arrived in Kingston Tuesday leading a government delegation to the conference.

Other members include Speaker of the National Assembly, Baleka Mbete, academics, business leaders, cultural organizations and civil society.

Johannesburg - 15/03/2005

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