Putin visits South Africa

Russian president Vladimir Putin arrived in Cape Town, leading a delegation of government officials and business people on a two day official visit. This was the first ever visit of a Russian head of state to SA. He was welcomed by President Thabo Mbeki in a special ceremony. The two rulers held bilateral talks and attended a joint press conference later in the day. Strategies to strengthen economic and political ties between the countries topped the agenda. South Africa's ruling party, the African National Congress (ANC), received military training and financial support from Moscow during its many years of fighting apartheid.