Hyderabad, Oct. 17: South African President Thabo Mbeki, who arrived here late last night, had a busy schedule today and visited many research and knowledge based institutes in and around the city.

Accompained by wife Zanele Mbeki, the visiting dignitary, who led a 14-member team of scientists, including Minister of Science and Technology, visited the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), Bharat Biotechnology, Aurobindo Pharmaceuticals, IIIT and ICICI Knowledge Park.

He attended a business lunch interaction organised by Assocham and Nasscom.

The team also called on Governor SS Barnala and Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu.

While expressing happiness over the providential escape of Naidu in the Oct 1 incident, Mbeki wished the chief minister to regain full health and lead the State for a long time.

Addressing researchers of the CCMB, Mbeki called for pro-active interaction between India and South Africa at all levels, especially in the fields of core competence so as to foster development in both the countries.

"It is our duty to identify and seek solutions for the problems encountered by us and mutual understanding among the two nations can help the cause," he said.

Appreciating the strides made by CCMB in the research arena, Mbeki stressed that whatever had been carried out here was of relevance to South Africa.

CCMB PRESENTATION: Earlier, a presentation detailing the activities of CCMB was shown to the President and the delegates by director Dr Lalji Singh.

DISPLEASURE: Albeit in a lighter vein, Thabo Mbeki expressed displeasure with the protocol which prevented him from spending more time in CCMB. "Every now and then I am reminded of time schedules and protocol seems to be very problematic and that is unfortunate," he quipped.

The South African President and his entourage left for Mumbai later in the evening. They were seen off by Surjit Singh Barnala and others.