President Thabo Mbeki departs for 2008 Progressive Governance Summit in London, United Kingdom

South African President Thabo Mbeki departs tonight Friday, 4 April 2008 for London, United Kingdom, where he will join other world leaders at the 2008 Progressive Governance Summit to be held under the banner of "An inclusive globalisation: promoting prosperity for all."

On the margins of the Summit, President Thabo Mbeki was expected to hold bilateral discussions with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown. Other requests for bilateral meetings have been received from leaders of Australia, New Zealand and Liberia.

Current members of the Progressive Governance network include Argentina, Brazil, Canada, The Czech Republic, Chile, Ethiopia, Hungary, New Zealand, Poland, South Africa, South Korea, Sweden and the United Kingdom. Participants will address some of the most pressing issues facing progressive governments across the world, including economic and social change, poverty, climate change and migration as well as how international institutions can be reformed to meet the new challenges presented by globalisation.

President Thabo Mbeki will departs from London on Monday, 7 April for New Delhi, India where he will, supported by Foreign Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, lead the South African delegation to the Africa-India Partnership Summit scheduled from Tuesday, 8 April 2008 to Wednesday, 9 April 2008.

Enquiries:
Ronnie Mamoepa
Cell: 082 990 4853

Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
4 April 2008