Issued by: Government Communications (GCIS)
MEDIA STATEMENT ON THE 3RD SOUTH AFRICA-INDIA JOINT COMMISSION: 4 AND 5 DECEMBER 1998, PRETORIA
South African-India relations have been further strengthened following the holding of the Third Joint Commission meeting on 4 and 5 December 1998 in Pretoria and the signing of a bilateral agreement on air services. The inaugural meeting of the India-South Africa Commercial Alliance (ISACA) was held on 3 December 1998.
Led by Deputy Foreign Minister Aziz Pahad and the Indian Minister of State for External Affairs, Mrs Vasundhara Raje, the Joint Commission focused on a wide range of issues dealing with Political and Defence matters, Trade, Economic, Cultural, Technical, Education, Scientific and Tourism Cooperation.
Both sides agreed that the strategic partnership reaffirmed in the Red Fort Declaration was build on a strong base of political goodwill, economic potential and similarities in global perceptions. The relevance of this partnership had been illustrated by the 13 bilateral agreements concluded by the two countries, the ten-fold growth in bilateral trade over the last 5 years to over 5 billion Rands in 1997, and exchanges of visits at the highest levels. At te same time both sides recognised that there remained considerable untapped potential to strengthen the partnership through frank and regular exchanges of views on bilateral and mulitlateral matters, in an atmosphere of trust and mutuality of interest. The two sides emphasised the need for expeditious follow up of Joint Commission decisions through mechanisms between the diplomatic Missions in the two countries and the concerned government departments, with a procedure for review of implementation of decisions through these mechanisms within a period of 6 months after each Joint Commission meeting.
It was agreed that the next round of Foreign Office level consultations, due in New Delhi in the first quarter of 1999, should aim at wide-ranging discussions on all bilateral and multilateral issues with a view to investing greater strength and substance to to the bilateral strategic partnership.
While noting with satisfaction the successful conclusion of 13 bilateral agreements, the two sides agreed that focused efforts should be undertaken by both sides to conclude the 9 agreements which are under discussion. It was agreed that the two sides would immediately initiate action to renew discussions on all these agreements with a view to concluding them by March 1999. They include the MOU on Telecommunications, Agreement on Maritime Shipping, Bilateral Investment Protection Agreement, Cultural and Educational Exchanges Programmes, and Agreements on Cooperation in Housing and Health.
The South African side conveyed appreciation to the Government of India for the training imparted to South African diplomats at the Foreign Service Institute in New Delhi and requested the Indian side to consider extending longer term training programmes especially for South African diplomats from hitherto disadvantaged communities.
They agreed on the need for reform of the UN system, including the restructuring of the Security Council in a manner reflecting current global, political and economic realities. The meeting recognised the importance of revitalising the economic agenda of NAM, so that it could more effectively articulate the interests of the developing countries in their major economic concerns. They agreed that the enormous potential for economic cooperation between the countries of the Indian Ocean Rim remained as yet largely untapped. They agreed that the two countries would work together in the effort to shift the focus of the Indian Ocean Rim Association from organisational and logistical issues to those relating to substantive economic cooperation.
The first meeting of the India-South Africa Defence Committee at the level of Defence Secretaries held in Pretoria in August 1998 was a significant development in bilateral defence cooperation. Defence cooperation between India and South Africa had registered tremendous progress in the last few years and India had emerged as the leading importer of defence equipment and technology from South Africa. It was agreed that bilateral defence cooperation has to transcend a buyer-seller relationship and encompass other vital dimensions such as joint research and development, joint production and joint ventures.
The parties agreed that interaction between their defence forces constitutes an important dimension of defence cooperation. It was recognised that there is considerable scope in such cooperation including exchanges between defence training establishments, joint exercises, ship visits, hydrography, information sharing and participation in seminars and conferences.
It was noted with satisfaction that there had been a number of important exchanges of high level visits including the visits to South Africa of the Chiefs of the Indian Army and Air Staff and the visit to India of the Chief of the South African Navy.
THe meeting reaffirmed the need for cooperation in the housing sector, as South Africa and India share similar problems and India has significant achievements in the low cost housing sector.
A Joint Working Group (JWG) on Petroleum and Energy for cooperation between the two countries is to be set up. The JWG may address itself to expanding the two countries is to be set up. The JWG may address itself to expanding cooperation between the two countries in the Petroleum and Energy Sectors.
It was also felt that there can be considerable experience sharing between the two countries in the field of tourism development. There is also considerable scope for business joint ventures between the two countries in the development of high-class resorts and amusement centres. Exchange of information on tourism and participation in various travel expositions in India and South Africa has also been agreed to between the two sides.
Cooperation in the field of education between South Africa and India should be strengthened. It was decided that an inter-governmental meeting would shortly be convened to develop a Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in Education.
Regarding the Cultural Agreement signed between the two countries on 4th December 1996 the need was expressed to conclude the cultural exchange programme at an early date to give effect to the Cultural Agreement.
The two parties took note of the conclusion of the Programme of Cooperation (PoC) in the fields of Science and Technology for the period 1997-1998 and expressed their satisfaction on continued interaction between the Indian and South African researchers through their visits to each other's country. It was agreed that one or two workshops may be organised in India and South Africa every year in mutually agreed areas to stimulate the research cooperation and identifying specific themes/projects for joint implementation in these areas.
It was noted that the South African and Indian Departments of Health are discussing a draft Memorandum of Understanding on Health Cooperation and identified many areas of concurrence and similarity in terms of needs and approaches.
Jointly issued by the Governments of India and South Africa. 5 December 1998 Pretoria