Archbishop Meets President of South Africa on MDGs

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, has met the President of South Africa to discuss the progress made so far in making the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) a reality in the country.

At the meeting, President Thabo Mbeki said that church and nation share "common work" in relation to the MDGs.

Following the meeting, Dr Williams said he was delighted to see the church playing a part in the changes that were taking place, particularly at the grassroots level.

He described the meeting as a "very special opportunity" to discuss "how more effective partnership between the churches and the government here could take forward those goals not only for the good of the country but of the whole of the continent".

President Mbeki paid tribute to the work of the Anglican Church both in South Africa and internationally in the struggle against apartheid, as he acknowledged the close relationship between church and state.

"It reinforces the message that the common work is not yet done. We continue to maintain that relationship to address the new challenges of the day," he said.

The Archbishop of Canterbury departed from South Africa Friday afternoon for the next leg of his visit in Angola.