President Jacob Zuma arrived in New York on Tuesday ahead of South Africa's officially assuming the rotating presidency of the UN Security Council for January.
“SA will utilise its presidency to continue exploring concrete measures for strengthening the relationship between the United Nations and regional organisations, in particular the African Union,” spokesman Clayson Monyela said in a statement.
Monyela said it was expected the South African delegation would convene a debate with the aim of adopting concrete measures to ensure greater coherence between the UN and the AU.
Zuma and Finland President Tarja Halonen, would co-chair the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon's high-level panel on global sustainability at the UN headquarters in New York.
“We will certainly take advantage of these important occasions to advance our international relations policy objectives... with a view to promoting democratic values, social justice and fundamental human rights,” Zuma was quoted saying in the statement. - Sapa