/ 24 November 1999

SWEDISH PM ARRIVES IN SA

SWEDISH Prime Minister Goeran Persson arrived in South Africa on Sunday for an eight-day tour, also including Mozambique, aimed at rejuvenating Sweden’s business presence in the region, the foreign ministry said. Persson was due to meet Deputy President Jacob Zuma for bilateral talks later on Sunday before being the guest of honour at a dinner hosted by Zuma, Ngwepe said. He is to hold talks with President Thabo Mbeki on Tuesday and to meet President Joachim Chissano on Thursday as part of a one-day visit to neighbouring Mozambique. Persson is accompanied by a large Swedish business delegation that is expected to explore trade opportunities that were lost a decade ago when Stockholm froze ties with Pretoria in protest at apartheid.