Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
JOINT COMMUNIQUE AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE VISIT TO SOUTH AFRICA BY THE INDIAN PRIME MINISTER, MR I K GUJRAL
At the invitation of His Excellency Dr. Nelson Mandela, President of the Republic of South Africa, His Excellency Mr. I.K. GUjral, Prime Minister of India visited South Africa from October 5 to 10, 1997.
2. The Prime Minister of India was accompanied by Mrs. Sheila Gujral, and a high level delegation including H.E. Mr. B.P. Baishya, Minister for Steel and Mines, H.E. Mr. S.K. Jena, Minister for Tourism and Parliamentary Affairs, senior Government officials and prominent representatives of the media and industry.
3. The visit, taking place in the fiftieth anniversary year of India's independence, served to recall the historic bonds between the peoples of India and South Africa, their shared struggles of past years and aspirations for the future. The visit also served to give concrete shape to the concept of a "strategic partnership" between the two countries, memorably elaborated in the Red Fort Declaration issued during the visit of President Nelson Mandela to India in March, 1997. Towards this end, they resolved to strengthen the institutional mechanisms of bilateral cooperation and consultation, such as the Joint Commission and Foreign Office consultations.
4. President Nelson Mandela and Prime Minister I.K. Gujral reviewed the status of bilateral cooperation and exchanged views on a wide range of international issues, including the situation in their respective regions. Prime Minister Gujral held detailed discussions with the Deputy President of South Africa, H.E. Mr. Thabo Mbeki. He also met several members of the South African Cabinet. Both sides recognised that the Prime Minister's visit would strengthen and provide impetus to their multidimensional political, developmental, economic, commercial, defence and cultural links in their common endeavour to build a more just and equitable world.
5. Prime Minister Gujral addressed the Parliament of South Africa in Cape Town. Recalling the ideals which inspired the freedom struggles in India and South Africa and their common commitment to democracy, he emphasised the need to give a peoples' orientation to their strategic partnership through greater cooperation on developmental issues and promoting the cause of a democratic international order.
6. Agreements on cooperation in geology and mineral resources as well as in the field of tourism were signed during the visit. A Programme of Cooperation in the field of Science and Technology was also agreed upon indicating possibilities of cooperation in the fields of frontier sciences, particularly in biotechnology, micro-electronics, information sciences and renewable energy sources.
7. Both sides reviewed with satisfaction their growing bilateral commercial and economic ties. It was noted that the recently opened representation of three Indian banks and Export Promotion Councils for textiles and engineering products of the India Tourist Office and of an office of the Confederation of Indian Industry in South Africa would enhance opportunities for trade, investment and people-to-people contacts. The Terms of Reference were agreed upon between the two Governments for establishing an India-South Africa Commercial Alliance comprising governmental and business representatives of the two countries with the objective of promoting bilateral trade, investment and joint ventures. South Africa offered to share with India its technological expertise in the fields of diamond mining and coal-based power generation.
8. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to South-South cooperation and to the implementation of joint programmes to assist the Least Developed Countries. They agreed to expand economic cooperation and training programmes in the fields of banking, finance, agriculture and management. South Africa expressed its appreciation for the assistance received under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme, particularly in the area of diplomatic training. India expressed its readiness to provide training and share experience in the fields of enterprise development, small scale industries and development planning, South Africa also offered training facilities for Indian nominees in a number of areas such as in coal washeries technology and wildlife management.
9. With regard to defence cooperation, both sides agreed that there would be mutual benefit through periodic exchanges on defence matters covering regional and global security and strategic issues. Both sides expressed their concern over the growth in illegal narcotics trafficking and discussed possible ways of strengthening cooperation between their respective drug enforcement agencies.
10. Prime Minister Gujral visited the Gandhi heritage sites, including the Tolstoy Farm and Fort in Johannesburg, and the Phoenix Settlement in Durban. He also visited the Pietermaritzburg railway station. Both sides renewed their common commitment to the preservation of the Gandhi heritage sites in South Africa which bear testimony to the unique and creative partnership forged between the two countries more than a hundred years ago. Prime Minister Gujral committed an initial assistance of the Government of India of 100,000 US Dollars towards the restoration of these sites. He also announced the institution of ten annual awards, in consultation with the Government of South Africa, for outstanding contributions in the areas of community development and resolution of social conflicts, and two awards for research on Mahatma Gandhi's pioneering activities in South Africa. The Government of India would also sponsor a Chair on Gandhi studies at the Gandhi-Luthuli Peace Institute at the University of Durban-Westville.
11. Prime Minister Gujral also visited various sites associated with South Africa's long and painful struggle against racial discrimination such as Robben Island, the Hector Peterson memorial in Soweto and the tomb of Rev. John Dube in Durban. He announced his Government's intention to contribute to the setting up of a Gandhi Wing in the proposed Institute of Peace and Reconciliation to be established soon at Robben Island.
12. On regional cooperation both sides took note of the emerging opportunities in the Southern African region in the wake of the growth and consolidation of the Southern African Development Community (SADC). The Indian side indicated its intention to conclude an agreement of cooperation with SADC in the coming few days. It also acknowledged that South Africa's leadership role in the economic development of the region rendered it a valuable partner in India's efforts to develop mutually beneficial cooperative linkages with the countries of the southern African region.
13. Both sides expressed their satisfaction at the launching of the Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation. They affirmed their mutual commitment to taking forward the Work Programme outlined at the last Ministerial meeting in Mauritius and emphasised the importance of initiating concrete measure for regional cooperation among the member countries as part of their common endeavour to exploit the full potential of South-South Cooperation and in their shared pursuit of an Afro-Asian destiny.
14. India and South Africa reiterated the need for a comprehensive reform of the United Nations structures, and in particular of the Security Council. They opposed partial or selective expansion of the Security Council to the detriment of the interests of the developing countries and expressed the imperative need to evolve global criteria for such expansion. In this connection, they reaffirmed their comitment to he Declaration issued at the meeting of Foreign Minister of the Non-aligned countries in Delhi in April, 1997.
15. In the context of South Africa's forthcoming Chairpersonship of the Non-Aligned Movement, views were exchanged on measures required to strengthen the Movement and for building the capacities required to meet the challenges of the 21st century. They agreed that India, with its experience of being closely associated with NAM since its inception, is well placed to provide requisite assistance to South Africa for the hosting of the next Summit in 1998.
16. Prime Minister Gujral invited President Mandela to pay another visit to India at the earliest opportunity. He also invited Deputy President Mbeki, members of the South African Council of Ministers and His Majesty King Goodwill Zwelethini to visit India. Both sides agreed that greater high-level exchanges between India and South Africa would help to nurture and reinforce the several understandings already reached and set the agenda for future cooperation between the two countries.
Issued by the Department of Foreign Affairs Pretoria 09 October 1997