India, SAfrica ink three pacts, discuss ways to improve ties

New Delhi, Jun 4 (PTI) India and South Africa on
Friday inked three pacts, including one on air services, as
the leaders of the two countries discussed ways to provide
fresh impetus to bilateral ties and agreed to extend support
to each other for the UNSC non-permanent seat for 2011-2012
term.
On his maiden visit to any Asian country as President
of South Africa, Jacob Zuma held delegation-level talks with
Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during which they
discussed bilateral as well as global issues including reforms
in the UN Security Council.
Besides the UNSC non-permanent seat for 2011-2012
term, both countries are also in race for permanent birth in
the global body.
"We will step up our efforts for reform of global
institutions of governance, including of the United Nations
Security Council. We have agreed to support each other’s
candidatures for the non-permanent seat for the 2011-2012
term," Singh said after his meeting with Zuma.
He said the leaders have decided to impart a forward-
looking character to these ties and agreed to focus on the
expansion of economic, trade and investment relationship.
Singh said, "The links between India and South Africa
are rooted in history. We can never forget that South Africa
was the land of the awakening of the Father of our Nation,
Mahatma Gandhi, for which we owe a deep debt of gratitude to
its people."
Terming their ties as "historic and unique", Zuma
described his visit as "more than success" and said it
"resolved all issues which needed to be resolved by two
friendly countries."
Besides 'Air Services' agreement under which the two
countries have added three stops for all flights including
Johannesburg and Durban in South Africa and Mumbai and
Thiruvananthapuram in India, the two countries also signed MoU
on cooperation in agriculture and mutual cooperation in
foreign and diplomatic services.
The Air Services pact will also enable the two
countries to enhance their ties in flight security area and
increase number of flights from both sides.
The MoU on cooperation between the Foreign Services
Institute of India and the Diplomatic Academy of South Africa
will provide for training of the officers. MORE PTI PYK
MRD



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