Question: Consider the following statements in reference to the visit of South African President to India and choose the correct option:
1) This was the first visit of South African President Cyril Ramaphosa to India after he took office.
2) He became the second South African President after Jacob Zuma to be the chief guest of Republic Day Celebration.
3) He also delivered lecture at the first IBSA Gandhi- Mandela Freedom Lecture.
Correct option:
(a) 1 and 3
(b) 2 and 3
(c) 1 and 2
(d) All of the above
Answer: (a)
Related facts:
- The President of the Republic of South Africa Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa was on visit to India on 25-26 January, 2019. This was the first state visit to India by him after he took the office of President.
- He was also the Chief Guest of 70th Republic Day celebration of India on 26 January 2019. He became the second president after Nelson Mandela to be the chief guest of Republic Day celebration.
- He also delivered the first the Indian Council for World Affairs instituted First IBSA (India Brazil South Africa) Gandhi Mandela Memorial Freedom Lecture in Delhi. President Ram Nath Kovind held a banquet in his honour at Rashtrapati Bhawan.
- Prime Minister Modi and President Ramaphosa held delegation level talks at Hyderabad House on January 25, 2019. The two leaders held discussions in the spirit of the strategic partnership, strong friendship and historical links between the two countries.
- Both leaders acknowledged the significance of the 100th birth anniversary celebrations of Nelson Mandela and the 150th birth anniversary celebrations of Mahatma Gandhi as an invaluable legacy of peace, non-violence and compassion.
- President Ramaphosa and Prime Minister Modi jointly addressed the India-South Africa Business Forum on January 25, 2019, with a focus to grow business ties between the two countries.
- During the visit, both the parties agreed to cooperate, share best practices, technology and expertise on the Ease of Doing Business Reform Programme. Both are committed to expand cooperation in the fields of trade and investments between business entities in South Africa and India.
- They also agreed to cooperate in the field of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) which play an invaluable role in job creation and creating trade and investment opportunities and also to enhance cooperation in the field of the Oceans Economy and to cooperate in multilateral forums on the Blue Economy including in the framework of Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA).
Strategic Partnership:
- Both the parties decided to update the Strategic Partnership by agreeing on a comprehensive roadmap. This is also called the Red Fort Declaration which was signed by the then Indian PM H.D. Deve Gowda and South African President Nelson Mandela in March 1997.
- A Three-Year Strategic Programme of Cooperation (2019-2021) was signed by the two sides in which the partnership between both the countries in all the aspects would be enhanced like security cooperation, trade, tourism etc.
Links:
https://www.mea.gov.in/bilateral-documents.htm?dtl/30952/IndiaSouth+Africa+Joint+Statement+during+State+Visit+of+President+of+South+Africa
http://www.pib.nic.in/Pressreleaseshare.aspx?PRID=1561487
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/india-south-africa-to-revise-20-year-old-strategic-partnership/article26082497.ece