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Putin in key South African visit | Putin in key South African visit |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Russian President Vladimir Putin has begun a two-day visit to South Africa, becoming the first Russian head of state to visit the country. | |
Arriving in Cape Town, he met South African President Thabo Mbeki for talks, where the two men were expected to sign a range of trade agreements. | |
Investments being discussed include diamonds, mining and metals. | |
Mr Putin's trip is being seen as an attempt by the Kremlin to re-assert its influence in the region. | |
South Africa's ruling party, the ANC, received military training and financial support from Moscow during its many years of fighting apartheid. | |
But since the party took power 12 years ago, Russian influence has waned. | |
And the BBC's world affairs correspondent, Peter Biles, says Russia is now conscious of growing Chinese interest in many areas of sub-Saharan Africa. | |
Diamond firms | |
Mr Putin is being accompanied by some of Russia's most high-profile business leaders. | |
Two of the world's biggest diamond firms - De Beers of South Africa and Russian company Alrosa - are expected to sign an agreement. | |
Other topics Mr Mbeki and Mr Putin will consider include health care and space exploration, which South Africa is keen to become more involved in. | |
Although economic ties are the main focus, the South African foreign ministry said the two men would also discuss the Middle East crisis and Iran's nuclear ambitions. | |
During his state of the nation address in May, President Putin said he wanted relations to improve between Russia and Africa. | During his state of the nation address in May, President Putin said he wanted relations to improve between Russia and Africa. |
Many former ANC activists, including President Mbeki, underwent military training in the Soviet Union. | Many former ANC activists, including President Mbeki, underwent military training in the Soviet Union. |
Mr Putin is expected to be given a tour of the prison on Robben Island where former President Nelson Mandela spent 18 years as a prisoner of the former apartheid regime. | |
The Russian leader is expected to travel to Morocco later this week. |