The UK and South Africa on Wednesday agreed to closer collaboration to tackle pandemics and develop medicine.
Health and education institutions will begin research in nine projects, from health systems and financing to mental health and surgery.
The agreement was struck during South African President Cyril Ramaphosa’s state visit to Britain, the first hosted by King Charles III as Britain's monarch.
It includes more UK funding to support genome sequencing to improve antimicrobial resistance monitoring in Africa.
More than 17,000 genomes have been sequenced to date in South Africa with UK support.
The additional funding will enable more rapid detection of diseases in at least 18 African countries, which could help to prevent pandemics.
The UK and South Africa are also working together to protect health systems from the increasing threat of climate change.
“Strengthening the partnership between the UK and South Africa is not only crucial in improving health and patient outcomes in both countries, but it is also vital to add to the global resilience of our health systems," said Steve Barclay, UK Health and Social Care Secretary.
“Through this partnership, we will reinforce our shared commitment to ensuring the world is better prepared for pandemics through joint research and building capability for disease surveillance.
King Charles III welcomes South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa to the UK — in pictures
“It was excellent to meet President Ramaphosa at the Francis Crick Institute, where staff showcased the best of innovative research technology the UK has to offer."
Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, and Therese Coffey, Secretary of State for the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, on Wednesday accompanied Mr Ramaphosa to the Royal Botanical Gardens at Kew, where a partnership with South African institutions is helping to preserve biodiversity and address climate change.
“It is vital for countries to work together to tackle global challenges like climate change and pandemic preparedness," Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said.
“This will benefit us all. The UK and South Africa have shown global leadership in joining to protect people by preventing the spread of dangerous diseases and by working to halt climate change, including through the ground-breaking Just Energy Transition Partnership to help countries move away from using fossil fuels.”
Mr Ramaphosa's trip is the first state visit to the UK for more than three years due to the coronavirus pandemic.
What is the FNC?
The Federal National Council is one of five federal authorities established by the UAE constitution. It held its first session on December 2, 1972, a year to the day after Federation.
It has 40 members, eight of whom are women. The members represent the UAE population through each of the emirates. Abu Dhabi and Dubai have eight members each, Sharjah and Ras al Khaimah six, and Ajman, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain have four.
They bring Emirati issues to the council for debate and put those concerns to ministers summoned for questioning.
The FNC’s main functions include passing, amending or rejecting federal draft laws, discussing international treaties and agreements, and offering recommendations on general subjects raised during sessions.
Federal draft laws must first pass through the FNC for recommendations when members can amend the laws to suit the needs of citizens. The draft laws are then forwarded to the Cabinet for consideration and approval.
Since 2006, half of the members have been elected by UAE citizens to serve four-year terms and the other half are appointed by the Ruler’s Courts of the seven emirates.
In the 2015 elections, 78 of the 252 candidates were women. Women also represented 48 per cent of all voters and 67 per cent of the voters were under the age of 40.
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Will Wilson is not the first player to have attained high-class representative honours after first learning to play rugby on the playing fields of UAE.
Jonny Macdonald
Abu Dhabi-born and raised, the current Jebel Ali Dragons assistant coach was selected to play for Scotland at the Hong Kong Sevens in 2011.
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GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
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THE%C2%A0SPECS
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Power: Combined output 920hp
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