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SA backs India for nuclear group

Pretoria - President Jacob Zuma has agreed to support India’s bid for membership of the Nuclear Suppliers group, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said.

Modi and Zuma addressed a joint press conference in the Union Buildings – which was decked out in flowers in honour of Modi – in Pretoria at noon, shortly after they had finished official talks, which appeared to have gone on an hour longer than expected.

No questions from the media were allowed.

“President Zuma and I also agreed on the need to work more closely on international issues and emerging global challenges.

“I thank the president for South Africa’s support for India’s membership of the nuclear suppliers group. We know that we can count on the active support of our friends like SA,” Modi said, reading from an autocue prompt.

South Africa was the first country with membership of the group that Modi has visited since his country failed to have its membership decided at the plenary session in Seoul.

By supporting India, South Africa was risking the wrath of China, who was not supporting India’s bid.

Zuma at the press conference also announced that South Africa and India would relax their visa regimes to make travelling between the two countries easier, which would benefit business and tourism.

Both heads of state also said the countries would cooperate more closely on defense as well as peace and security.

Zuma said Modi’s visit was an important one for South Africa, also given the historic relations. Both acknowledged the role the liberation icons Nelson Mandela and Mahatma Gandhi played in the liberation struggle.

In terms of trade, the two countries envisaged closer cooperation on mining, renewable energy, pharmaceuticals, agro-processing, water and waste management, retail, financing and infrastructure development.

Zuma and Modi are set to address the SA-India Business Forum in Pretoria this afternoon, and Modi was expected to address South Africans of Indian descent in Johannesburg tonight.

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