New Delhi, 02 June (H.S.):

Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan held bilateral talks with South African Deputy President Shipokosa Paulus Mashatile at the Vice President's House in New Delhi on Tuesday. During the meeting, the two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to giving fresh momentum to India–South Africa relations, with a focus on strengthening trade, investment, defence cooperation, skill development, and people-to-people ties.

According to the Vice President's Office, the discussions focused on expanding economic cooperation between the two countries and exploring new opportunities for bilateral engagement. Both leaders emphasized the importance of creating a conducive environment to promote trade and investment and unlock the full potential of economic relations.

During the meeting, Vice President Radhakrishnan referred to the proposed Preferential Trade Agreement between India and the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) and expressed hope for the early commencement of negotiations and their successful conclusion.

The two sides also discussed enhancing cooperation on multilateral platforms, including BRICS, G20, IBSA, and the Indian Ocean Rim Association. Both leaders stressed the importance of working together to advance the priorities and interests of the Global South.

The meeting welcomed the growing defence cooperation between India and South Africa. Both countries expressed their desire to further strengthen military engagement through future editions of the IBSAMAR naval exercise, conducted jointly by India, Brazil, and South Africa.

Vice President Radhakrishnan thanked South Africa for its support in supplying cheetahs for India's cheetah reintroduction programme. He highlighted the progress achieved under Project Cheeta, including successful breeding in the wild, and expressed hope for South Africa's continued cooperation in the conservation effort.

The Vice President also invited South Africa to consider joining India's key multilateral initiatives, including the International Solar Alliance, the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure, and the International Big Cat Alliance. He noted that these initiatives align closely with the shared objectives of sustainable development and inclusive growth pursued by both nations.

At the conclusion of the talks, the two leaders reaffirmed their shared commitment to strengthening India–South Africa relations and working together to promote peace, prosperity, sustainable development, and the interests of the Global South.

South African Deputy President Shipokosa Paulus Mashatile is currently on an official visit to India from May 29 to June 3, accompanied by a high-level delegation. Several senior ministers and government officials from South Africa also participated in the meeting.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar