Durban, July 03: describing India's relations with South Africa as "strategic" and "balanced", External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha today began a two-day visit aimed at bolstering bilateral trade and economic cooperation. Sinha, who arrived here from Mauritius, to participate in the India -South Africa Joint Commission, also said that India was looking at South Africa as a bridge to Latin America.
"If we are able to develop an air and sea transportation linkage with Latin America then it will be a win-win situation for India, South Africa and Latin America," he told reporters here. As part of ongoing high-level contacts, South African President Thabo Mbeki would be making a state visit to India later this year, he disclosed.
Observing that relations between India and South Africa were strategic and balanced, Sinha, who is making his fourth visit to this part of the world over the past year, said, "Both South Africa and India are trying to make up for the time they lost during the apartheid years."
"Over the past 10 years we have succeeded in building up a multi-faceted relationship. The trade relations are almost a billion US dollars. This excludes the trade in gold and defence,” he said. "We have widespread co-operation in the areas of science and technology, agriculture, informational technology and pharmaceuticals,” added the minister. Bureau Report