President Cyril Ramaphosa will meet with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Wednesday.
He will also attend the UK-South Africa Business Forum, followed by a banquet hosted by the Mayor of London.
Ramaphosa is on a two-day state visit hosted by King Charles III.
TODAY: His Excellency the President @CyrilRamaphosa is on a state visit to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland at the invitation of His Majesty King Charles III. #SAinUK 🇿🇦🇬🇧#BetterAfricaBetterWorld 🌍 pic.twitter.com/PdmYnwbgiv
— Presidency | South Africa 🇿🇦 (@PresidencyZA) November 22, 2022
The President will begin his morning with a walking tour of the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew, where he will be shown an exhibition of plants of special conservation interest in South Africa.
The South African National Biodiversity Institute has been working with the botanic gardens for thirty years, which boast the largest wild plant seed bank in the world.
Ramaphosa will then visit the Francis Crick Institute for a tour and briefing on the centre’s research into the legacy of COVID-19.
South Africa is one of more than 70 countries that have partnered with the Institute, focusing on tuberculosis and retroviruses.
Ramaphosa is scheduled to have a lunch at 10 Downing Street with Sunak to discuss policy issues affecting the two governments, including energy, skills development, education and tourism.
The President will have the opportunity to speak with South African and British business people later in the day to find and secure new opportunities for trade and investment.
President Ramaphosa arrived at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday, where he was accompanied by his hosts King Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla.
He looked at various items related to South Africa from the royal collection, including photographs of Queen Elizabeth II’s trip to South Africa in 1947 and various gifts given to the royal family by presidents Nelson Mandela and Thabo Mbeki.
The objects seen by the President are part of the Royal Collection of objects related to South Africa. The visit took place in the picture gallery of Buckingham Palace. pic.twitter.com/LVyruFHvGA
— Presidency | South Africa 🇿🇦 (@PresidencyZA) November 22, 2022
Ramaphosa later addressed the British Parliament, saying that after the colonial era of conflict and dispossession, the relationship between the two countries was marked by a desire for shared prosperity:
The Palace of Westminster houses two houses of Parliament #BetterAfricaBetterWorld 🌍 pic.twitter.com/NVs7MXSSSP
— Presidency | South Africa 🇿🇦 (@PresidencyZA) November 22, 2022
President Ramaphosa’s full speech to UK lawmakers:
