Deputy President of South Africa, H.E. Mr. Shipokosa Paulus Mashatile, met the Vice President of India, Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan, at the Uprashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on Tuesday, reaffirming the shared commitment of both nations to deepen bilateral cooperation across a wide range of sectors.
Deputy President Mashatile, who is on an official visit to India, was accompanied by a high-level delegation comprising senior ministers and government officials. The meeting focused on enhancing India–South Africa relations through greater collaboration in trade, investment, defence, skills development, and people-to-people exchanges.
During the discussions, both leaders reviewed the progress of bilateral ties and exchanged views on strengthening cooperation among countries of the Global South. They also explored avenues for closer engagement in multilateral platforms, including BRICS, G20, IBSA, and IORA.
A key area of discussion was the expansion of economic cooperation between the two countries. Vice President Radhakrishnan highlighted the proposed India–Southern African Customs Union (SACU) Preferential Trade Agreement and expressed optimism regarding the early commencement and successful conclusion of negotiations. Both sides emphasized the importance of creating a conducive environment for businesses and investors to unlock the full potential of bilateral trade and investment.
The leaders also welcomed the growing defence partnership between India and South Africa and expressed interest in expanding military cooperation. They underscored the significance of future editions of the IBSAMAR naval exercise involving India, Brazil, and South Africa as a platform for enhancing maritime collaboration.
Vice President Radhakrishnan thanked South Africa for its support to India’s cheetah reintroduction programme through the transfer of cheetahs under Project Cheetah. Noting the programme’s encouraging progress, including successful breeding in the wild, he sought South Africa’s continued cooperation in the conservation initiative.
The Vice President further invited South Africa to join India-led multilateral initiatives such as the International Solar Alliance (ISA), the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI), and the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA), highlighting their shared goals of sustainable development and climate resilience.
The meeting concluded with both sides reaffirming their commitment to strengthening bilateral relations and working together to promote peace, prosperity, sustainable development, and the interests of the Global South.
