Cyril Ramaphosa began his 2-day India visit on Friday with a ceremonial reception at Rashtra Bhavan.
South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa began his 2-day India visit on Friday with a ceremonial reception at Rashtra Bhavan and later laid wreath at the Samadhi of Mahatma Gandhi.
Speaking at Rashtrapati Bhavan, Mr Ramaphosa said, "It's a real joy and pleasure to be here in India. This is a historic visit for us as South Africans because we are not only here to consolidate relations between India and South Africa but also to remember the great leaders our two countries have had."
Further lauding and remembering Mahatma Gandhi and South African leader Nelson Mandela, he said, "Gandhi and Mandela are the two outstanding leaders that have blazed the particular trail for respect for human rights, freedom and democracy. They have put a path that all of us are traversing and we are the inheritors of the great work they have performed and we are in there awe."
On Saturday, he will be the Chief Guest at Republic Day parade 2019.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had personally handed over the invite to President Ramaphosa when he met him on the sidelines of G20 summit in Argentina in December 2018. He will be the 11th African leader to be the chief guest at Republic Day parade and comes at a time when India is increasing its engagement with Africa and celebrating the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.
"My coming here as President of South Africa is to celebrate with people of India. I am pleased that PM Modi invited me. This is joy for us South Africans to be here," Mr Ramaphosa said.
This is the 2nd time a South African President will be the chief guest at Republic Day. In 1995, the then President of South Africa Nelson Mandela was the chief guest at Republic Day.
The President is being accompanied by the First Lady Dr. Tshepo Motsepe, and a high-level delegation including nine ministers, senior officials of his government and a 50-member business delegation.
The visit by the President comes in a year when India is celebrating the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.
Over 150 Indian companies have invested in South Africa employing over 20,000 locals. The bilateral trade has increased to US $10.65 billion in 2018-19 from US $9.38 billion in 2017-18. Both countries are members of UN, BRICS, G-20, Commonwealth, Indian-ocean rim association (IORA) and the IBSA (India, Brazil and South Africa).
PM Modi had visited South Africa from 7-9 July 2016 and visited Pretoria, Johannesburg, Pietermaritzburg and Durban. The former President of South Africa Jacob Zuma had visited India twice in last 4 year--1st for the 3rd India Africa summit in 2015 and later for the BRICS summit in Goa in 2016.
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