Making roots strong, EAM Sushma Swaraj strengthens bilateral relations with South Africa ahead of BRICS, IBSA meeting

Durban, June 4: Heading on a five day trip to South Africa, EAM Sushma Swaraj makes it very clear that India aims at strengthening relations with every country. Reaching South Africa, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj met the South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and discussed with him ways to make further progress in bilateral and multilateral cooperation on Sunday.

EAM Sushma Swaraj took a brief visit to Mauritius before heading her journey to South Africa. Swaraj arrived in Durban on a five-day visit during which she will attend meetings of BRICS and IBSA, the two major groupings where India has been playing a key role.

 

Slating the updates on the External Ministers visit, MEA Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted saying, “Centuries old relationship! On her arrival in South Africa, EAM @SushmaSwaraj was heartily received by Deputy Foreign Minister Luwellyn Landers."

 

While on her way to South Africa, Swaraj made a brief stopover at Mauritius to take stock of preparations for the upcoming World Hindi Conference in Port Louis.

“Taking stock of the preparations for the Vishwa Hindi Sammelan in August 2018! EAM @SushmaSwaraj and Minister of Education of Mauritius, Leela Devi Dookun visited the Swami Vivekananda International Convention Centre (SVICC), the main venue of the World Hindi Conference” MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted. 

 

BRICS is a grouping of five countries - Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa and IBSA is a tripartite grouping of India, Brazil, South Africa.

On June 6, Swaraj will visit the Phoenix Settlement, a South African Heritage site, a place where Mahatma Gandhi developed his philosophy of non-violence. She would also participate in a series of events at Pietermaritzburg on June 6-7 to commemorate the 125th anniversary of the "historic incident in the train compartment that became a catalyst for Gandhiji's Satyagraha movement."

According to the MEA statement it said, "The two-day commemoration activities will also include the release of joint commemorative stamps on Oliver Tambo and Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhaya and a Youth Summit where 20 diaspora youth from Africa and five others from India will participate to speak on the relevance of Gandhiji's message of peace to the youth of today.”