The Hindu : Thabo Mbeki arrives today

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Oct 15, 2003

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Thabo Mbeki arrives today

By Our Diplomatic Correspondent

NEW DELHI OCT. 14. The South African President, Thabo Mbeki, arrives here tomorrow on a five-day visit to India, his first since taking over as President.

The External Affairs Ministry said in a statement that agreements on extradition and mutual legal assistance in criminal matters, a memorandum of understanding for cooperation in the field of electric power and a cultural programme of cooperation are scheduled to be signed during the visit.

Mr. Mbeki, who will be accorded a ceremonial reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Thursday, will hold delegation-level talks with the Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee. He will also call on the President, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, the Vice-President, Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, and the Deputy Prime Minister, L.K. Advani.

The President will host a banquet in the South African leader's honour on Thursday evening. Mr. Mbeki is also scheduled to visit Hyderabad.

"The excellent political relationship that has always existed between the two countries has fostered commercial and economic cooperation as well. Bilateral trade has risen exponentially since 1993, when India lifted the comprehensive sanctions that it had imposed on the apartheid regime in 1948..." the statement said.

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