The British Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair, accompanied by Mrs Cherie Blair and a number of policy advisers, will be visiting South Africa at the invitation of the Deputy President, Mr Mbeki from 6 to 9 January 1999. One of the focal points of the visit will be to co-chair with Deputy President Mbeki the second meeting of the United Kingdom/South Africa Bilateral Forum on 7 January 1999 in Pretoria.
The first meeting of the UK/SA Bilateral Forum took place when Deputy President Mbeki visited London in November 1997. At this meeting the United Kingdom and South Africa reaffirmed their close and wide-ranging links and agreed to meet annually to discuss matters of mutual interest. During the visit Mr Blair who will be visiting both the Gauteng and Western Cape provinces, will also meet with President Mandela.
This visit will further broaden the partnership between South Africa and the United Kingdom. The United Kingdom remains South Africa's strongest trade and investment partner. Total trade between the two countries during 1997 amount to R31,8 billion. For the first 10 months of 1998 the figure amounts to R21,4 billion. United Kingdom companies have invested nearly R10 billion in South Africa since the 1994 elections.
ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
PRETORIA
3 JANUARY 1999