LONDON, Nov 23 (Reuters) – Britain and South Africa announced a new scientific and fitness partnership on Wednesday to mark President Cyril Ramaphosa’s state day in London, the first official guest of its kind hosted by Britain’s King Charles.
Charles, 74, had displayed classical pomp and rite to welcome Ramaphosa and held a banquet in his honor on Tuesday. Ramaphosa also addressed lawmakers in the houses of parliament.
On Wednesday, Britain announced a new study collaboration when Ramaphosa visited the Crick Institute, Europe’s largest biomedical think tank, and Kew Gardens, with Charles’ brother, Edward.
British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said partnerships, in spaces such as vaccine manufacturing, genome sequencing and climate change, “will benefit us all. “
“The UK and South Africa have shown global leadership by joining others to prevent the spread of harmful diseases and run to avoid climate change. “
Ramaphosa will meet Prime Minister Rishi Sunak later in the day and attend a UK-South Africa business forum to discuss industry and investment. South Africa is Britain’s largest trading partner in Africa.
Ramaphosa pressed on the role industrialised countries will have to play in helping other countries reduce emissions in his speech on Tuesday and welcomed Britain’s participation in projects to help South Africa decarbonise.
Britain will conduct genome sequencing at South Africa’s National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD), which has played a key role in detecting COVID-19 variants such as beta and omicron, with the aim of achieving better surveillance of antimicrobial resistance in Africa.
Kew Gardens, a botanic garden in west London, will work with South Africa’s National Institute of Biodiversity to maintain South Africa’s plant diversity.
(Reporting via Alistair Smout, editing via William Maclean)