News
<<Back
ZUMA KICKS OFF UK VISIT
03 March 2010
President Jacob Zuma today kicks off his
first state visit to the United Kingdom
where he will meet Queen Elizabeth II and
hold bilateral talks with Prime Minister
Gordon Brown.
The president, who arrived in the UK with
first lady Tobeka Madiba-Zuma on Tuesday,
will begin his day with a ceremonial welcome
on the Horse Guards Parade. He will be
formally greeted by Queen Elizabeth II and
the Duke of Edinburgh, and will review a
Guard of Honour.
Zuma and his wife will then join the Queen
and the Duke of Edinburgh for a state
carriage procession along the Mall to
Buckingham Palace, where he will reside for
the duration of the visit.
The president will later visit Westminster
Abbey, where he will lay a wreath at the
Grave of the Unknown Warrior. He will also
unveil a plaque at Oliver Tambo House (which
has been acquired by the South African
government), the former residence of the
late ANC President OR Tambo. The Queen will
in the evening host a state banquet at
Buckingham Palace.
On Thursday, President Zuma will hold
bilateral talks with Prime Minister Gordon
Brown at 10 Downing Street. He will also
meet Conservative Party leader David Cameron
and Liberal Democrats leader Nick Clegg.
While South Africa on Tuesday marked the 100
days countdown to the 2010 FIFA World Cup
kick off, Zuma will on Thursday visit the
2012 Olympic Park in Stratford and Wembley
Stadium where he will outline South Africa’s
readiness to host the tournament.
On Thursday, the president will deliver a
keynote address to members of the British
Parliament at the Palace of Westminster. He
will then attend a banquet given by the Lord
Mayor and Corporation of London at Guildhall
in the evening.
President Zuma will conclude his visit with
an address to the UK-South Africa Business
Seminar, which is aimed at boosting
investment and trade ties. Over 200 South
African business people will be meeting
their British counterparts during the
seminar.
“This visit will further strengthen those
ties, particularly in the areas of
development, trade, investment, tourism and
international co-operation,” Zuma said of
his visit, which concludes on Friday. -
BuaNews
|
