RAJYA SABHA TV – INDIA’S WORLD WARMING TIES BETWEEN INDIA, SOUTH AFRICA
- President Cyril Ramaphosa of the South Africa was the Chief Guest at the 70th Republic Day
- This is the second time a South African Head of State is Chief Guest for Republic Day — the first occasion was in 1995 with late Nelson Mandela.
India and South Africa:
- India’s relations with South Africa go back centuries and have a powerful emotional component.
- It is here that Mahatma Gandhi began his political career, and over the decades of the 20th century, India stood solidly behind their struggle against apartheid.
Historical Significance:
- India was the first country to sever trade relations with the apartheid government, and subsequently imposed a complete — diplomatic, commercial, cultural and sports — official ban on South Africa.
- India worked consistently to put the issue of apartheid on the agenda of theUN, NAM and other multilateral organizations and for the imposition of comprehensive international sanctions against South Africa.
- The African National Congress (ANC) maintained a representative office in New Delhi from the 1960s onwards.
- India actively worked for the AFRICA Fund to help sustain the struggle through support to the frontline states.
- In March 1997, during the visit of President Mandela to India, the two countries signedthe historic Red Fort Declaration for Strategic Partnership between India and South Africa.
Red Fort Declaration:
- South Africa achieved democracy in 1994, it was the Red Fort Declaration on Strategic Partnership between India and South Africa, signed in March 1997 by which set the parameters for a rekindled relationship.
- The 20th anniversary of signing of the declaration was commemorated by an India-South African cultural extravaganza at High Commission of India, Pretoria on April 9, 2017.
- This Strategic Partnership between the two countries was again re-affirmed in the Tshwane Declaration (October 2006).
- Both these declarations have been instrumental mechanisms that has contributed in the past to both South Africa and India for achieving their respective national objectives.
Growth in Bilateral Trade:
- India’s has had fairly flourishing commercial relations with South Africa since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1993.
- However, despite bilateral trade having been “on the upswing”, having “crossed the $10-billion benchmark in 2017-18.
Way Forward:
- The uniquely intertwined histories of India and South Africa have ensured that the bonds much deeper than we generally realize.
- The partnership is about a shared and prosperous future for our people.
Red Fort declaration is related to which country?
- south Africa
- Pakistan
- England
- none
State the significance of india south Africa ties in the current scenario and steps needed to further the relationship.
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