partnership between South Africa and India
2 October 2006
1. In commemorating the centenary of the launch of Satyagraha and in the
spirit of the strategic partnership that was established during the historic
visit of South Africa's first democratically-elected President, Nelson Mandela
to India in March 1997 and carried further by the visit to India by President
TM Mbeki in October 2003 and the visit to South Africa by President APJ Abdul
Kalam in September 2004, South Africa and India reaffirm their commitment to a
global order of peace, equality and justice.
2. President Thabo Mbeki and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh paid tribute to
the global role played by Mahatma Gandhi through the implementation of the
principles of truth, non-violence and self-sacrifice as enshrined in the
philosophy of Satyagraha. Gandhi's influence was felt throughout the world and
inspired numerous leaders and renowned personalities like Martin Luther King,
Albert Luthuli, Oliver Tambo, Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu. It was the
unflinching spirit of Mahatma Gandhi that contributed decisively towards the
demise of the British Raj, similarly it inspired the struggle against
apartheid, particularly during the Defiance Campaign. Above all it was the
strong message of non-violence contained in Gandhi's Satyagraha that helped to
bring about a peaceful transformation in South Africa and the realisation of
truth and reconciliation between the destructive human divisions that had been
spawned by apartheid.
3. In sharing the fundamental values espoused by Mahatma Gandhi, President
Mbeki and Prime Minister Singh stress their continued and unfaltering belief in
the peaceful resolution of disputes and the recognition of the rights of
nations to self-determination and freedom.
4. President Mbeki and Prime Minister Singh express their belief that South
Africa and India draw their strength and inspiration from the diverse,
multi-cultural societies constituting their respective nations and that the
best assurance for continued peace and prosperity lies in the adherence to
democratic governance that is rooted in the respect for human dignity and the
fundamental rights of all people as laid down in the Universal Declaration of
Human Rights.
5. The two national leaders furthermore reaffirmed their belief in the
growing partnership with the signing of the following bilateral
agreements/memorandum of understandings (MoUs):
* co-operation in the field of education
* MoU between Spoornet and railways.
They furthermore noted that the following agreements will be signed
imminently, once the regulatory procedures have been completed:
* exemption of Visa requirements for holders of diplomatic and official
passports
* programme of co-operation in science and technology.
6. Conscious of the need to make the partnership more result-oriented and of
greater direct benefit to the peoples of South Africa and India, President
Mbeki and Prime Minister Singh have today decided to intensify co-operation and
committed themselves to raise the existing level of friendship and partnership
between South Africa and India to even higher levels.
7. Both leaders noted that the political interaction between India and South
Africa, marked by an exceptional degree of understanding, mutual trust and
confidence had gathered further momentum and substance. The number of
Ministerial visits exchanged had increased significantly since the milestone
visit of President Mbeki to India in 2003. They expressed their satisfaction at
the continued and steady consolidation of bilateral relations. Besides the deep
political bond that was first forged more than a century ago the partnership
now extends to the economic, human resources development, public administration
and governance, urban and rural settlement, health, defence, cultural and
science and technology fields.
8.1 Recalling that the Red Fort Declaration had recognised that the
economies of South Africa and India have certain comparative advantages,
complementarities and resources which can be exploited to mutual benefit
through trade, investment and transfer of technology they noted with
satisfaction the progress that had taken place in these areas resulting in more
than doubling of the total bilateral trade since 2003, and a significant
increase in investments in both directions. They acknowledged, however, that
the full potential in this regard was yet to be tapped and reaffirmed their
determination to explore these opportunities to their optimal extent
particularly in the following priority sectors: energy, tourism, health,
automobiles and auto components, chemicals, dyes, textiles, fertilisers,
information technology, small and medium enterprises and infrastructure.
8.2 They urged the private sectors of both countries to gain better
awareness of each other's strengths and to set themselves ambitious targets. It
should be possible at least to treble the volume of bilateral trade by 2010. In
this context, they welcomed the scheduled third meeting of the India-South
Africa Chief Executive Officers' (CEOs') Forum in Johannesburg on 2 October
2006, which would contribute towards this goal.
9.1 Recognising the major priority attached to the health sector in both
countries, they agreed that the agreement on co-operation in health and
medicine should be implemented expeditiously.
9.2 Further, South African and Indian companies providing health services
including diagnostics and medical care would be encouraged to work jointly to
provide affordable health care to nationals of both countries as well as in
third countries.
10. Recalling the important agreements which were signed in October 2003 to
promote co-operation in the fields of hydrocarbons, electricity and power they
agreed that these should be implemented at the earliest.
11. They noted the progress made in bilateral defence co-operation as
reflected in the report of the India-South Africa Defence Committee, which met
in June 2006 in Pretoria. They agreed that South Africa and India should work
towards closer co-operation in the defence sector, including the possibility of
joint research and development. Furthermore, the South African government
expressed appreciation for the training provided by India on United Nations
(UN) peacekeeping and operations of modern submarines.
12.1 Lauding the efforts of the South African government for promoting
broad-based economic and social development through the Accelerated and Shared
Growth Initiative for South Africa (AsgiSA) and the Joint Initiative for
Priority Skills Acquisition (JIPSA), Prime Minister Singh reaffirmed that the
Indian government was ready to be a partner in these initiatives and to provide
assistance in building up scarce and critical skills identified by the South
African government.
12.2 President Mbeki welcomed the growing co-operation within the framework
of the Indian Technical and Economic Co-operation (ITEC) programme and Prime
Minister Singh's indication that India would increase the number of ITEC slots
allocated to South Africa from 55 to 100, with 50 of these slots earmarked
specifically for the JIPSA initiative.
12.3 Noting with satisfaction that the visit of the Deputy President of
South Africa to India from 9 to 13 September 2006 had helped identify further
avenues through which India could contribute to AsgiSA and JIPSA, the two
leaders decided that a programme of co-operation addressing growth and skills
would be drawn up by designated co-ordinators from both sides.
12.4 To identify means of co-operation in capacity building and skills
enhancement in the key Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector,
they requested the Working Group set up under the MoU on ICT to convene as a
matter of priority.
13. They expressed satisfaction at the increasing cultural exchanges between
the two countries and decided that the cultural exchange programme, which
expires in 2006, would be renewed and that academic exchanges between the two
countries particularly through university-to-university linkages would be
promoted.
14. President Mbeki and Prime Minister Singh expressed their satisfaction on
the opening of the South Africa Tourism office in Mumbai in 2005 and reaffirmed
their belief that increased tourism would not only bring commercial benefits to
both countries, but also enhance the warm people-to-people relations between
South Africa and India. In this context they welcomed the imminent opening of
an office of the International Marketing Council (IMC) of South Africa in
Mumbai.
15. In the critically important field of science and technology, President
Mbeki and Prime Minister Singh agreed that a more extensive and active network
between relevant institutions of the two countries would be promoted by the
concerned departments.
They noted that President Abdul Kalam had delivered the second Philip Tobias
Lecture at the invitation of President Mbeki and had called for greater
co-operation between scientists of South Africa and India in meeting the
challenges of development, including in partnership in the Pan African
e-Network and the World Knowledge Platform.
16. In addressing wider areas beyond the bilateral realm, the two leaders
agreed that every effort would be made to conclude the India-Southern African
Customs Union (SACU) preferential trade agreement as soon as possible since it
would provide a significant incentive to the business communities of the two
countries to explore mutually beneficial commercial opportunities and
contribute to the growth in bilateral trade.
17. President Mbeki and Prime Minister Singh welcomed the launching of the
Southern African Development Community (SADC)-India Forum in the Republic of
Namibia on 28 April 2006 to promote technical co-operation between SADC and the
government of India in all fields of economic activity with the empowerment of
the people in the SADC region and in India as a key priority.
18. The two leaders agreed that the consolidation of the African Union (AU)
held the key to the development of the continent. South Africa welcomed India's
willingness to support the objectives of the New Partnership for Africa's
Development (NEPAD), the AU's primary programme aimed at consolidating the
African agenda.
19. The two leaders expressed satisfaction at the outcome of the first
India-Brazil-South Africa (IBSA) Summit held in Brasilia on 12 September 2006.
They welcomed the emergence of IBSA as an effective instrument for promoting
ever-closer co-ordination on global issues between these three influential and
diverse democracies of Africa, Asia and South America. Both sides also agreed
to intensify consultations and co-operation at multilateral forums such as the
Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), Commonwealth, Group of 77 (G-77), Group of 20
(G-20) and the New Asian-African Strategic Partnership (NAASP) with a view to
jointly addressing global challenges.
20. The two leaders shared the view that international economic relations
continue to be characterised by inequities and inequalities with large sections
of the world yet to reap the benefits of globalisation, which has led to
economic crises and instability in several developing countries. The two
leaders agreed that to be sustainable and successful, the globalisation process
must address not perpetuate or aggravate the existing inequalities. They,
therefore, deeply regretted that the Doha Development Agenda negotiations had
been suspended, which had pitted the interests of corporate agriculture and
large industrial enterprises of the developed countries against those of small
and the vulnerable producers that predominate in developing countries. This
constituted a grave setback to the development promises of the Round and a
serious disappointment for developing countries. Failure to conclude the
negotiations in accordance with the mandate will deprive developing countries
of fair and equitable conditions for fully realising their comparative
advantages across agriculture, industry and services. Both leaders emphasised
that substantial and effective reductions in all forms of trade-distorting
domestic support provided by the major subsidisers is an unfinished agenda and
must be secured to meet the agreed aim of establishment of a fair and
market-oriented trading system in the global agricultural sector.
21.1 Convinced of the vital importance of the role of the UN in promoting
world peace, stability and development, the two leaders welcomed the creation
of the Peace-Building Commission and the Human Rights Council (HRC) as well as
the progress made in the areas of UN Secretariat and management reform. The
leaders noted the importance of increased focus on development and the
alleviation of poverty.
21.2 They reaffirmed the need for a decision regarding the expansion of the
Security Council (SC), without which no reform of the UN would be complete.
They reiterated their conviction that the SC must be expanded to include
developing countries from Africa, Asia and Latin America in both its permanent
and non-permanent categories so as to reflect contemporary realities and make
it more democratic and representative and resolved to continue to pursue a
decision in this regard.
22. The two leaders expressed their deep concern over international
terrorism, extremism, trans-border organised crime and illicit trafficking in
humans and in arms and drugs. They viewed terrorism as a serious threat to
sovereign States, international peace, security and development. They agreed
that counter-terrorism efforts by the international community under the
auspices of the UN should be global, comprehensive and in conformity with
international law, human rights and humanitarian law. The ultimate objective is
the total eradication of this scourge so that barbaric attacks such as the ones
carried out on 11 July 2006 in Mumbai and other parts of the world do not
recur. To this end South Africa and India would continue to work towards the
early adoption of a Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT)
in the UN General Assembly.
23. President Mbeki and Prime Minister Singh reiterated the unwavering
commitment of South Africa and India to the goal of the complete elimination of
nuclear weapons in a comprehensive, universal, non-discriminatory and
verifiable manner and expressed concern over the lack of progress in the
realisation of that goal. They emphasised the necessity to start negotiations
on a phased programme for the complete elimination of nuclear weapons with a
specified framework of time to eliminate nuclear weapons to prohibit their
development, production, acquisition, testing, stockpiling, transfer, use or
threat of use and to provide for their destruction.
24. They agreed that nuclear energy could play an important role in ensuring
safe, sustainable and non-polluting sources of energy to meet the rising global
demands of energy particularly in developing countries. They reaffirmed the
inalienable right of all States to the peaceful application of nuclear energy
consistent with their international legal obligations. They agreed to explore
approaches to co-operation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy under
appropriate International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards. They further
agreed that international civilian nuclear co-operation under appropriate IAEA
safeguards amongst countries committed to nuclear disarmament and
non-proliferation objectives could be enhanced through acceptable
forward-looking approaches, consistent with their respective national and
international obligations.
25. In conclusion, President Mbeki and Prime Minister Singh reiterated their
deep conviction that peace and development are indivisible and that good
governance was the best known way to ensure both. They emphasised that
under-development could not be addressed in isolation, but that its eradication
was a factor of numerous social and environmental influences including
education, healthcare, basic infrastructure and amenities, capacity building
and skills enhancement, political participation at all levels, advancement of
indigenous culture and social organisation and access to natural resources,
clean water and air for all. They emphasised further that the right to freedom
had an important economic dimension as it embraced not only political freedom
but also the freedom to lead a life with dignity, unfettered by domination and
discrimination. They noted that the strategic partnership between South Africa
and India was guided by the common vision of a global order marked by peace,
security and equity. To tackle these multiple challenges, they reaffirmed their
commitment to enhance their co-operation bilaterally as well as multilaterally
to build a better, safer and more prosperous world for present and succeeding
generations.
Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
2 October 2006
Source: SAPA
