Bush to visit Africa

2008-01-25 19:06

Washington - President George W Bush will travel to five African nations next month - Benin, Tanzania, Rwanda, Ghana, and Liberia - on a trip expected to address issues including economic development and Aids, the White House announced on Friday.

The trip was set for February 15-21, the White House press office said in a statement.

"This trip will be an opportunity for the president to review firsthand the significant progress since his last visit in 2003 in efforts to increase economic development and fight HIV/Aids, malaria, and other treatable diseases, as a result of the United States robust programmes in these areas," Bush's spokesperson's office said.

Bush will be meeting with his counterparts "to discuss how the United States can continue to partner with African countries to support continued democratic reform, respect for human rights, free trade, open investment regimes, and economic opportunity across the continent," the statement added.

- AFP