India, South Africa sign 3-year strategic programme, pledge to strengthen ties
Prime Minister Narendra Modi-South African President Cyril Ramaphosa
India and South Africa on Friday exchanged a three-year strategic programme of cooperation that pledged to strengthen ties and work on United Nations reforms.
"Both are strategically located at Indian ocean and democracies. We are the inheritors of the legacy of Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela and that is why we share the world view. We are also working together at United Nations Security Council (UNSC) reforms," Prime Minister Narendra Modi said.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa expressed gratitude to India for its support to Pretoria inits bid for a non-permanent member of UNSC and said, "our tenure will focus on extending peace and security in the world and strengthen the multilateral system".
Bilateral trade between India and South Africa stood at $10.65 billion in 2018-19. Both Delhi and Pretoria are members of G20, IBSA, IORA & BRICS.
Earlier, South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa was given a ceremonial reception at Rashtrapati Bhawan.
Speaking at Rashtrapati Bhawan he said, "It's a real joy and pleasure to be here in India. This is a historic visit for us as South Africans because we are not only here to consolidate relation between India and South Africa but also to remember the great leaders of our two countries."
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Lauding Mahatma Gandhi and South African leader Nelson Mandela, he said"Gandhi and Mandela are the two outstanding leaders that have blazed the particular trail for respect for human rights, freedom and democracy. They have put a path that all of us are traversing and we are the inheritors of the great work they have performed and we are in there awe."
He added, "my coming here as President of South Africa is to celebrate with people of India and pleased PM Modi invited me.''
He also paid homage to father of nation Mahatma Gandhi and wrote at visitors'book, "In honour of a world that is peaceful offering prosperity to its people"
The visit by the president comes in a year when India is celebrating the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.
On Saturday he will be the chief guest at Republic Day parade. PM Modi personally handed over the invite to President Cyril when he met him on the sidelines of G20 summit in Argentina in December2018. He will be the secondAfrican leader to be the chief guest at Republic day parade and comes at a time when India is increasing its engagement with Africa.
This is the 2nd time a South African President will be the chief guest at Republic day. In 1995, the then President of South Africa Nelson Mandela was the chief guest at Republic day.