HC Deb 12 January 2004 vol 416 cc532-3W
Mr. Moore

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which African(a) heads of state, (b) prime ministers and (c) foreign ministers have made official visits to the United Kingdom since June 2001; what the (i) dates and (ii) main purposes of the visits were; and which United Kingdom ministers met them. [1469391

Mr. Mullin

There have been a number of visits by leaders and ministers of African countries to the UK. Visits may be planned by the visitor's own government or by the Conference and Visits Group (CVG) of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

The following table shows all official visits organised by CVG since June 2001. Details of those visits organised by the visitor's own government are not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Visitor From To Propose of visit UK Ministers met
Foreign Minister Merafhe 17 September 2001 19 September 2001 Africa meeting at Chequers Prime Minister SoS International
(accompanying President) Development Baroness Amos
President Mogae 8 June 2003 11 June 2003 Guest of Government Visit Prime Minister SoS International
Development Foreign Secretary
Foreign Minister Merafhe 8 June 2003 11 June 2003 Guest of Government Visit Prime Minister SoS International
(accompanying President) Development Foreign Secretary
Central African Republic
Prime Minister Ziguele 1 September 2003 7 September 2003 Sponsored Visit Mr. Mullin
Ethiopia
Prime Minister Zenawi 22 February 2003 26 February 2003 Guest of Government Visit Baroness Amos SoS International
Development Prime Minister
Chancellor of the Exchequer
Foreign Secretary
Foreign Minister Mesfin 22 February 2003 26 February 2003 Guest of Government Visit Baroness Amos SoS International
(accompanying Prime Minister) Development Prime Minister
Chancellor of the Exchequer
Foreign Secretary
Prime Minister Zenawi 13 July 2003 14 July 2003 Progressive Governance Summit Prime Minister
Ghana
President Kufuor 15 September 2001 21 September 2001 Africa meeting at Chequers Prime Minister SoS International
Development Baroness Amos
Foreign Minister Gbeho 15 September 2001 21 September 2001 Africa meeting at Chequers Prime Minister Sos International
(accompanying President) Development Baroness Amos
Foreign Minister Owusu-Agyemang 28 November 2002 30 November 2002 Sponsored Visit Foreign Secretary Mr. Rammell
Mazambique
President Chissano 18 September 2001 19 September 2001 Africa meeting at Chequers Prime Minister SoS International
Development Baroness Amos
Nigeria
President Obasanjo 17 September 2001 18 September 2001 Africa meeting at Chequers Prime Minister SoS International
Development Baroness Amos
Rwanda
Foreign Minister Murigande 11 May 2003 14 May 2003 Sponsored Visit SoS International Development
SENEGAL
President Wade 17 September 2001 18 September 2001 Africa meeting at Chequers Prime Minister SoS International
Development Baroness Amos
Foreign Minister Gadio 5 November 2001 7 November 2001 Sponsored Visit Foreign Secretary Baroness Amos
South Africa
President Mbeki 11 June 2001 15 June 2001 State Visit Prime Minister
Foreign Minister Dlamini-Zuma 11 June 2001 15 June 2001 State Visit (Accompanying President) Prime Minister
President Mbeki 13 July 2003 14 July 2003 Progressive Governance Summit Prime Minster
Tanzania
President Mkapa 16 September 2001 20 September 2001 Africa meeting at Chequers Prime Minister SoS International
Development Baroness Amos
Zambia
Foreign Minister Mwansa 15 November 2003 20 November 2003 Sponsored Visit Mr. Mullin