New Delhi, Oct 15: South African President Thabo Mbeki arrived here today on a five-day visit to India during which he would hold intensive parleys with Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on the entire gamut of bilateral issues besides exchanging views on major regional and international developments. Mbeki was received at the IGI Airport by Minister of State for External Affairs Digvijay Singh, South African envoy here Maite Nkoana-Mashabane and Indian High Commissioner to South Africa Shiv Mukherjee.
During his stay, India and South Africa will sign four accords relating to extradition, mutual legal assistance and cooperation in power sector and culture.
The two sides would also negotiate agreements on framework preferential trade, bilateral investment protection and promotion, cooperation in health and medicine, maritime transport and in hydrocarbons.
Mbeki, who last visited India in 1996 as Deputy President, will meet the Prime Minister tomorrow. The South African leader, who is heading a high-power delegation, will also have meetings with Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani and Defence minister george fernandes.
President A P J Abdul Kalam will host a banquet for Mbeki tomorrow after which he will fly to Hyderabad.
Mbeki's delegation includes 11 ministers. Among them are Essop Pahad, Minister in the Presidency, N C Dlamini Zuma (Foreign Affairs) and those holding key portfolios of Trade and Industry, Communications, Environmental Affairs and Tourism, Agriculture and Land Affairs, Public Enterprises and Minerals and Energy.
Bureau Report