Putin arrives in S. Africa to talk trade, sign friendship treaty

Russian President Vladimir Putin has arrived on his first visit to South Africa, where he will discuss bilateral trade and sign a treaty on friendship and partnership.

Putin, who is being accompanied by several ministers, will meet with his South African counterpart, Thabo Mbeki, and will focus on the energy sector, oil-and-gas industry, space exploration and investment during talks. The Russian leader will also talk to business leaders, including Nicky Oppenheimer, the chairman of De Beers Group, the world's biggest diamond producer.

Aide Sergei Prikhodko said "The presidents will sign a number of documents, including a treaty on friendship and partnership, an agreement on cooperation in health care, and an agreement on mutual protection of intellectual property rights in the sphere of military-technical cooperation."

A major trade delegation accompanying the Russian leader includes Viktor Vekselberg, the head of the Renova Group and one of Russia's richest men, Alexander Nichiporuk, the president of diamond giant Alrosa, and Igor Makarov, the head of the Russia's largest independent natural gas producer, Novatek.

Putin, who as the leader of the Group of Eight industrialized nations' current chair nation has highlighted African development this year, will be making his first sub-Sahara visit as head of state and it will be the first time a Russian leader has arrived in South Africa since apartheid officially ended in 1994.

Moscow and the African National Congress, which swept to power with Nelson Mandela as leader later that year, maintained close contacts in the Soviet and apartheid era, but the governments of the two countries are now looking to maximize trade possibilities.

Although South African companies such as fruit producers and brewer SAB/Miller, which produces several popular brands of beer at a plant in central Russia, have made inroads into the Russian market, the Kremlin believes trade could be significantly increased from the 2005 figure of $171 million.

Prikhodko said the presidents could also discuss issues of military-technical cooperation, including construction of servicing centers for Russian-made military equipment.

Putin will be in South Africa for two days and will make a one-day trip to Morocco on September 7.

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