Britain and South Africa agree health partnership on second day of state visit

President of South Africa Cyril Ramaphosa, right, tours the Temporate House with Britain's Prince Edward, the Earl of Wessex, at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew in London, Nov. 23, 2022. The President, accompanied by Britain's Prince Edward, the Earl of Wessex, visited the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. South Africa is one of the most biodiverse countries on Earth, and the visit will focus on the longstanding scientific and conservation partnerships between South Africa and the UK. Kirsty Wigglesworth/Pool via REUTERS

Britain and South Africa on Wednesday announced a new health and science partnership to mark the second day of President Cyril Ramaphosa's state visit to London, the first such official guest hosted by Britain's King Charles.

Charles, 74, had rolled out traditional pomp and ceremony to welcome Ramaphosa, hosted a banquet in his honour on Tuesday. Ramaphosa also addressed lawmakers at the Houses of Parliament.

On Wednesday, Britain announced a new set of research collaborations as Ramaphosa toured the Crick Institute, the biggest biomedical research facility in Europe, and Kew Gardens, with Charles' brother Edward.

Geneticist Paul Nurse stands as Britain's Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa arrive at the Francis Crick Institute during a state visit in London, Britain, November 23, 2022. REUTERS/Henry Nicholls

British foreign minister James Cleverly said the partnerships, on areas such as vaccine manufacturing, genome sequencing and climate change, will "benefit us all".

"The UK and South Africa have shown global leadership in joining together to protect people by preventing the spread of dangerous diseases, and by working to halt climate change."

Ramaphosa will meet Prime Minister Rishi Sunak later in the day, and attend a UK-South Africa business forum to discuss trade and investment. South Africa is Britain's biggest trading partner in Africa.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa speaks with geneticist Paul Nurse in front of Britain's Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex at the Francis Crick Institute during a state visit in London, Britain, November 23, 2022. REUTERS/Henry Nicholls

Ramaphosa had highlighted the role that industrialised nations had to play in helping other countries cut emissions in his speech on Tuesday, and welcomed Britain's involvement in initiatives helping South Africa to decarbonise.

Britain will support genome sequencing at South Africa's National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD), which played a key role in detecting COVID-19 variants such as beta and omicron, in a push improve antimicrobial resistance surveillance in Africa.

Kew Gardens - a botanical garden in west London - will also work with South Africa's National Biodiversity Institute on preserving South Africa's plant diversity.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa shakes hands with LifeArc's Chair Ian Gilham at the Francis Crick Institute during a state visit in London, Britain, November 23, 2022. REUTERS/Henry Nicholls

(Reporting by Alistair Smout, Editing by William Maclean)