Bush kicks off state visit to Britain

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Wednesday, November 19, 2003

Bush kicks off state visit to Britain

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US President George W. Bush and his wife Laura Bush arrived in London Tuesday evening for a three-day state visit to Britain, days after the US administration announced its new strategy to speed up power transfer to the Iraqis.

The couple were later to receive a quiet royal welcome at Buckingham Palace, where they would stay until Friday morning.

According to Downing Street, Bush was expected to hold talks with his staunchest ally British Prime Minister Tony Blair at No. 10 Downing Street on Thursday.

Iraq would be high on the agenda of the two leaders, who were also expected to discuss the Iran nuclear row, the Middle East peace process, EU-American relations and the steel tariffs.

Besides using the talks with Bush to argue for a cautious shift of power within Iraq, reports said, Blair would press for concessions for the Britons held at the US Guantanamo Bay base and to reassure the Americans about Europe's military intentions.

According to Blair's office, Bush and Blair on Thursday would have a roundtable discussion on HIV/AIDS with a group of representatives from African countries, charities and leading NGOs in the field, with the aim of underlining the importance of fighting HIV/AIDS and to underline Anglo-US efforts in this area.

During his stay in Britain, Bush's engagement would also include a ceremonial welcome at Buckingham Palace on Wednesday when the British Queen Elizabeth II would formally welcome him before he receives calls by the leaders of the British opposition parties.

On the same day, Bush would also address an invited audience on transatlantic alliance and his forward strategy for democracy at Banqueting House. After the speech, he would meet British families who lost loved ones in Sept. 11 terror attacks on the United States in 2001.

Bush was also expected to meet on Thursday with British soldiers who had fought in Afghanistan and Iraq, together with their families, as well as the bereaved families of those soldiers who had been killed in Iraq.

Bush's last visit to Britain was in April, less than one month after the United States and Britain launched war against Iraq on March 20.

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