Egyptian President Hosny Mubarak arrived in South Africa Monday for a two-day state visit aimed at boosting ties between Africa's biggest economy and one of the continent's longest-serving leaders, according to dpa. Mubarak is the first Egyptian president to visit South Africa since the end of apartheid in 1994. His arrival in Johannesburg Monday was confirmed by the foreign affairs ministry. On Tuesday, Mubarak is scheduled to meet President Thabo Mbeki and Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka to discuss ways of boosting political, economic and trade relations. During his visit he is expected to sign agreements with South Africa to pursue cooperation in the energy sector, among others, Egyptian embassy officials in Pretoria told South Africa's SAPA news agency. In a statement, the foreign ministry in Pretoria said the two would also be discussing peacekeeping in Africa, the Middle East peace process, developments in Lebabon and the institutional reform of the United Nations. Egyptian Foreign Affairs Minister Ahmed Abal-Gheit described Mubarak's visit as an "historic" one, that would set the stage for further cooperation between the two countries. Mubarak is accompanied by a number of Egyptian ministers, who will meet with their South African counterparts. Total trade between Egypt and South Africa reached 675 million rand in 2007, a year in which South Africa more than doubled its exports to the North African country, skewing the trade balance in its favour.
