Nascent allies India and South Africa on Thursday signed five landmark pacts and in a declaration pledged to jointly fight international terrorism, religious bigotry and drug trafficking.
Visiting South African President Thabo Mbeki and Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee looked on as delegates from the two sides inked an extradition treaty, an accord on mutual legal assistance and an agreement on cooperation in the hydrocarbon sector.
A pact on cooperation in the power and electricity sectors and a framework paper for cultural exchanges up to 2006 were also stamped as Vajpayee and Mbeki signed the declaration.
”The joint declaration reaffirms their commitment to their strategic partnership based on shared values of democracy and social justice.
”It also stressed the importance of fighting the forces of international terrorism, religious extremism, organised crime and illicit drug trafficking,” a statement after the ceremony said.
Earlier on Thursday, Mbeki called for means to strengthen the strategic partnership between his country and India.
”We need to look at what more should be done to strengthen our strategic partnership,” Mbeki said.
”I want to strengthen our bilateral ties as our relationship with India is very important historically and currently. We will also hold talks on matters of concern of a global nature.”
Mbeki, who flew in on Wednesday, also visited the tomb of slain apostle of non-violence Mahatma Gandhi, who spent his formative years in South Africa before returning to India to lead the movement that ended British rule.
Mbeki later stressed that bilateral ties were rooted in history.
”We can therefore say without any hesitation that we are not fair-weather friends — we have been, we are and always will be strategic partners for all seasons.”
India was a staunch opponent of apartheid and in 1946 stopped all contact, including in sports and business, with South Africa’s then white minority government.
The two countries resumed ties when apartheid ended in 1994 and then president Nelson Mandela visited in 1995, a year after he was elected in South Africa’s first all-race elections.
”We need this strong relationship because of the global crisis as is reflected by the challenge posed by the crisis in Iraq, which has shaken the very foundations of the United Nations philosophy and left smaller and weaker nations more vulnerable,” said Mbeki before signing the joint declaration.
”In addition, India and South Africa have experienced numerous acts of terrorism.
Mbeki and Vajpayee also held official-level talks on Thursday to find ways to boost ties in fields such as trade and defence, sources said.
The talks also touched on a trilateral treaty India and South Africa signed with Brazil in June to boost trade and pool their political muscle in talks with rich nations, one source said.
After his talks in New Delhi, Mbeki will visit India’s southern hi-tech hub Hyderabad and financial capital Bombay before leaving on Saturday.
Economic relations between India and South Africa continued to grow with bilateral trade reaching $870-million in 2002 and the two sides are negotating a preferential trade agreement in the hope of doubling the figure.
India currently ranks South Africa as its 15th biggest export market and 24th most important import market. — Sapa-AFP