French President Nicolas Sarkozy arrived in Cape Town on Thursday morning for a two-day state visit, which will include discussions with President Thabo Mbeki and top business leaders.
Sarkozy was welcomed by Mbeki at Tuynhuys, where a 21-gun salute was fired in his honour while a military band played the French and South African national anthems.
After inspecting a military guard of honour, Sarkozy was introduced to Cabinet ministers and their deputies.
The two presidents then entered Tuynhuys for their bilateral discussions.
They are scheduled to sign cooperation agreements between the two countries and address a joint press conference at noon.
Sarkozy will address a joint sitting of the two houses of Parliament at 2pm and Mbeki will host a state banquet in his honour on Thursday evening.
Discussions between the two presidents are expected to include cooperation in addressing South Africa’s energy challenges, effective and expanded support for the Joint Initiative on Priority Skills Acquisition (including capacity-building in local government) and increased French investment in the transport, energy, automotive and aeronautical sectors.
Also on the agenda will be French support for the African Union’s peace and security architecture, concrete measures and actions to address conflict prevention and resolution in Sudan, Chad, the Central African Republic, Western Sahara and other areas, and post-conflict reconstruction and development in Rwanda, Côte d’Ivoire and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
On Friday, Sarkozy is scheduled to attend the South Africa-France Business Forum with Mbeki, before visiting Robben Island.
France is South Africa’s eighth largest trading partner and an important investor in the South African economy.
Bilateral trade totalled R25-billion in 2007, with the trade balance in France’s favour.
South Africa’s exports are mainly minerals, metals and other commodities, while imports from France include machinery, chemicals and pharmaceuticals. — Sapa