EU-S. Africa summit to discuss trade deals

The European Union's fourth annual summit with South Africa on Thursday is set to eye expanding economic links through new trade deals, according to dpa. Last year, South Africa exported nearly 30 billion dollars' worth of goods to European nations, while it imported products estimated at about 25 billion dollars.The two sides are still discussing a free trade deal, though numerous obstacles remain, including questions about market access.South African President Jacob Zuma will head his country's delegation, while the European side will include the President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy and the President of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barosso. Also on the agenda for the meeting - set to take place in Kruger National Park, in South Africa's northeast - will be developments in North Africa, Sudan and Zimbabwe. "We will highlight the importance of working together, although our views are not always identical," said a European diplomat ahead of the summit.The Libyan situation has shown a stark contrast between Pretoria and Brussels, with South Africa opposed to the NATO bombing campaign that helped rebels oust long-time ruler Moamer Gaddafi from Tripoli last month.South Africa will host the upcoming UN climate change summit in Durban, and environmental issues are also expected to be discussed at the summit. Prior to the start of the summit, the EU announced it would contribute 126 million euros (173.5 million dollars) to South Africa's fight against HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis.