India, South Africa sign Declaration for Strategic Partnership

Pretoria, Oct 2 (UNI) India and South Africa today signed the historic ''Tshwane Declaration'' taking bilateral ties to the level of ''strategic partnership'', pledging to treble trade turnover to 12 billion dollars by 2010 and promising to work together for total eradication of international terrorism so that ''barbaric attacks like in Mumbai and other parts'' do not occur.

The 25-point declaration, which was signed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and South African President Thabo Mbeki after their two-hour long talks on the entire range of bilateral and international issues, also committed the two countries to explore cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy under the appropriate International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards.

After the signing of the Declaration, Dr Singh stated that the ''strategic partnership'' would give a new ''content, meaning and approach to our relationship''.

The two countries also concluded an agreement in the field of education and a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for cooperation in the railway sector besides agreeing to conclude an understanding on exemption of visa requirements for diplomats.

It was also agreed upon to finalise an agreement in Science and Technology.

MORE UNI SMA/RB VD HS1727