Mbeki’s ‘home coming’ visit

The visit of Mr. Thabo Mbeki, President of South Africa, to New Delhi was his first after assuming presidentship. The visit gave the much needed boost to the bilateral relations, political and economic. Mr. Mbeki was on a five day official visit to India from October 15-20.

Mr. Mbeki had detailed deliberations with the Indian President and Prime Minister on a variety of issues of mutual interest. While both sides recalled their age old ties, they signed five agreements, including an extradition treaty. Apart from the extradition accord, India and South Africa signed a mutual legal assistance treaty, an agreement for cooperation in the field of power, a cultural exchange programme and another agreement in the field of hydrocarbons. The treaty on hydrocarbon will help India to gain access the oil sector in Africa.

The focus of talks was on economic cooperation. India hoped to double the trade between the two countries to $2 billions from the current $1billion. Both sides hoped for an early conclusion of preferential trading arrangements with the Southern African Customs Union (SACU).

Coming to India was like home coming for Mbeki. “I stand here feeling that I have indeed come home again. This is particularly because Indian and South African freedom fighters have shared an enduring and special bond of kinship, friendship, solidarity and comradeship for more than a century,” he said in a memorial lecture.

India-Sri Lanka move forward

Trade and economic cooperation dominated the visit and later the talks between the Sri Lankan Prime Minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe, and Prime Minister Vajpayee of India during the two day visit of the former from October 20 to 21.

To this effect, both sides agreed to begin negotiations on a Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) immediately and conclude these talks by March 2004. New Delhi and Colombo, are now looking at an “FTA plus” arrangement, which is likely to cover investment and services. India was the third largest investor in Sri Lanka, with approved investments of $392 million. India was the largest investor in the island nation in 2000.

The two countries had agreed “in principle” to a defence cooperation agreement. This would include training of Sri Lankan security personnel by India and consultations between the defence chiefs of the two countries. It, however, was not a “mutual defence treaty”.

Mr. Wickremesinghe briefed the Indian leadership on the current state of the peace process in Sri Lanka. India said it would permit “daily air services” between Colombo and major Indian cities.

India has tremendous potential: Jean Chretien

Bilateral relations between India and Canada has entered a new phase after the freezing relation since 1998. The visit of Canadian Prime Minister, Jean Chretien, preceded by the visit of the Foreign Minister, Mr. Bill Graham to India, speaks the substance of mutual ties. He was in Delhi in the third week of October.

While Ottawa and New Delhi disagreed on the nuclear issue, both sides saw the imperative to pursue other bilateral interests. In the last few years Canada has recognised India as an extremely important trade and economic partner with tremendous potential. Mr. Chretien focused, among other things, on south India’s role in Information Technology. Canada would increase its representation in India “in a way to have a better contact in the southern region.” Canada is interested in India’s banking and financial sector. Further, it is keen on working on issues of regional security, nuclear and missile proliferation.

Hungary PM’s ‘Landmark visit’

It was a ‘landmark visit’ for Mr. Peter Medgyessy, Prime Minister of Hungary, to India, being the first visiting Hungarian PM in the last 29 years. Mr. Medgyessy was in India on a seven day official visit from November 2 to 9.

During his stay Mr. Medgyessy had crucial discussions with the Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee. The focus was mainly on enhancing trade ties. Mr. Medgyssey sought to rebuild economic ties that have suffered a downturn over the past decade and develop closer all-round bilateral ties.

The Hungarian Prime Minister outlined the areas of economic interest to both countries which include both traditional as well as new areas such as electronics, software, biotechnology and cooperation in the manufacture of pharmaceuticals and vehicles. Other areas identified include agriculture, energy and defence sectors.

The two sides discussed defence relation and signed an agreement to this effect. An agreement for abolition of visa for diplomats was also signed and a memorandum for exchange of visits by businessmen interested in investments.

Both Hungary and India stood for a multilateral world under UN supervision. Mr. Medgyessy said that India and Hungary were both interested in reforming the U.N. and fighting terrorism. India hopes Hungary’s move to enter EU soon will augment Indo-EU relation.

India, Serbia treading a new path

That bilateral relation between India and Serbia has come to its own terms after a long gap is what describes the visit of Serbia and Montenegro Foreign Minister, Mr. Goran Svilanovic to India in October last. Relation between the two countries suffered due to internal problems in erstwhile Yugoslavia, with whom India had a very close relation from the days of President Tito. Mr. Svilanovic’s visit is first visit of any minister from that country in the last 10 years.

Mr. Svilanovic had talks with Indian Foreign Minister, Mr. Yashwant Sinha on bilateral, regional and international issues. The two sides discussed the possibility of concluding treaties on extradition and mutual legal assistance as well as on avoiding double taxation and visa-free travel for diplomats and officials.

Serbia attaches great importance to its relation with India since the days of NAM. “We have respect for the political weight of India,” he said, adding that Serbia had “inherited” a very good relationship with developing countries.

Switzerland’s Pascal identifies areas

Federal Counsellor Pascal Couchepin, Switzerland’s President for 2003, and his wife, Brigitte Couchepin, arrived in India on a five day visit from November 7 to11. During his stay, Mr. Couchepin explored bilateral relations with New Delhi on various fronts. New Delhi attached special significance to the visit. The last Presidential visit from Switzerland was by Flavio Cotti in 1998.

During his stay, the Swiss President and Indian Prime Minister A B Vajpayee discussed a host of important bilateral, regional and international issues. Mr. Pascal hailed India’s recent move for peace with Pakistan. He called on the President A P J Abdul Kalam and had meetings with the Vice-President, the Deputy PM and others.

The two sides signed two agreements for cooperation in disaster management and science and technology. The business side of Mr. Pascal’s visit was crucial, spread across Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad and New Delhi.

Mr. Pascal was in praise for India’s economic potential as something unique, though the bilateral trade was much below the expected level. Bilateral trade in 2001-02 stood at $1 billion. Mr. Couchepin said that Switzerland had identified a few Indian sectors such as biotechnology, power, and textile machinery as priority areas to strengthen business collaborations.

Mauritius’s Berenger invites Indian investments

Bilateral and close relations between India and Mauritius got a boost with the visit of the Mauritian PM, Mr. Paul Berenger to New Delhi from November 21 to 25. During the visit, the two sides had high level consultations on wide-ranging issues. Economic cooperation, trade, terrorism and culture were widely discussed.

The two sides signed an extradition treaty, a memorandum of understanding on non-conventional energy sources and an agreement to set up a World Hindi Secretariat while Hindustan Aeronautics clinched a deal to sell a Dornier aircraft to Mauritius. The two countries also agreed to conclude a comprehensive economic partnership agreement and set up a joint study group for the purpose. The agreements were signed in the presence of the Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, and his visiting counterpart from Mauritius, Paul Berenger, after delegation-level talks at Hyderabad House, New Delhi.

The two countries would work for a Free Trade Area for which works have already started. Mr. Berenger had invited Indian investments to his country. His country can be used as a hub to move on to Africa. Berenger identified IT, textile, seafood processing and pharma and financial sectors as the major areas where Indian companies can invest. Mauritius and India, had also agreed to set up a Joint Working Group (JWG) on counter-terrorism at an early date.

India, Nepal to strengthen ties

India and the Himalayan Kingdom of Nepal have once again reaffirmed their commitment to strengthen old bilateral ties. This was expressed during the visit of the Nepalese Prime Minister, Surya Bahadur Thapa, to India from November 23 to 25 in his capacity as Chairman of the South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation (SAARC).

Apart from discussion on SAARC matters, Mr. Thapa’s visit provided an opportunity to review India’s relations with Nepal. During the talks between two Prime Ministers, Vajpyee and Thapa, the two sides agreed to advance the regional cooperation agenda, including a framework for a free trade treaty, at the coming South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) summit in Islamabad in January.

India has expressed concern over the serious security situation prevailing in Nepal and stressed the need to take urgent broad-based measures to deal with it. India wants a long term political stability in Nepal at the earliest based on the principles of multiparty democracy and constitutional monarchy.

Senegal’s Wade’s IT Visit

It appears the visit of Mr. Abdoulaye Wade, President of Senegal to India was more of a Information Technology visit. Mr. Wade was on a four day official visit from October 12 to 15.

The Senegalese President had fruitful discussions with the Indian leaders, including President Kalam and Prime Minister Vajpayee. India decided to extend a $15 million line of credit to Senegal for the development of rural small and medium enterprises and for purchase of agricultural machinery and equipment.

New Delhi agreed to extend the scope of ongoing cooperation under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation programme. India has agreed to consider the possibility of deputing its ITEC experts in key sectors identified by Senegal. Condemning terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, the two sides emphasised the importance of “strict, total and unconditional” implementation of UN Security Council resolution 1373.

India has deep roots in our past: Prince Charles

It was a visit after eleven years. Prince Charles last came to India with his late wife Princess Diana. He was on a nine day official visit from October 28 to November 5. The Prince’s visit highlighted the unusual strong and old relation between India and United Kingdom.

The Prince had unusual but vital discussions and exchange of views with the President, A.P.J Abdul Kalam and Prime Minister A.B. Vajpayee. Prince Charles was given a broad outline of the President, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam’s “Vision 2020” which had one of its components of ‘providing urban amenities in rural areas’ (PURA). The President informed the Prince about the rapid strides made by India in information technology and other hi-tech areas. The Prime Minister joined the Prince of Wales in giving a clarion call to all sections of society to eradicate unemployment in Asia by supporting youth entrepreneurship initiatives and creating an enabling environment for new millionaires to emerge from a judicious combination of social mentoring and financial help.

Focussing on fostering ties between the two countries, the Prince said “it is perhaps in the sharing of people and knowledge that our relationship is so unusual and so strong”; the 16 per cent growth in bilateral trade in the first half of this year notwithstanding. Of the view that the two countries should “continuously reconnect” and understand each other, the Prince said: “Most of all, we must be active in ensuring that opportunities exists for younger people in both our countries to build personal and professional ties.” Maintaining that educational exchange plays an important role in humanising international relations, he signed off with an acknowledgement that India has deep roots in “our past”. “It is part of our collective memory. It will also be a long-term partner in our future security and prosperity.”

The Prince was happy to note that a project promoting youth entrepreneurship that took shape in 1992 as the Bharatiya Yuva Shakti Trust (BYST) and that endeavoured to spread his model of providing mentoring and funds to aspiring young entrepreneurs had not only taken firm roots in India but was spreading its wings to other parts of Asia as well. Prince Charles said governments had a critical role to play in encouraging start-ups, in helping businesses when they were fragile.

During his nine day stay, the Prince had a busy schedule. He visited NGOs promoted by him, and met young entrepreneurs. He took a ride on the Delhi Metro services. His visits took him to few other cities including Mumbai.

Brazil, India searching new ways

Brazil and India are developing countries and both attaches special importance to their bilateral relation and the visit of Mr. Celso Amorin, Brazil’s Foreign Minister to India in the third week of October, highlighted this reality.

Areas of deeper engagement are many between the two sides. According to Mr. Amorin, both Brazil and India would cooperate in the defence sector. One instance is, Brazil could offer India “patrol” aircraft. Bilateral trade was well over $1 billion and Brazil was aware of India’s strength in the pharmaceutical industry.

Brazil was more than keen to form a trilateral commission in June this year, with Indian and South Africa as other members. The main purpose is to explore avenues for free trade between three continents. This “trilateral commission” would be important for reforming the Security Council itself, according to Celso Amorin.

The reason behind this effort is the “natural affinities” in the “multilateral field” that these countries share, indicated the path to be taken. “It is the first case of systematically seeking tripartite cooperation between the countries of the South and I think it will be a very good example if it flourishes,” he said pointing out that India, Brazil and South Africa were in the thick of trade liberalisation talks. Brazil will continue to cooperate with India and others in further WTO negotiations.

India, Brazil and South Africa are three “natural candidates” to enter the United Nations Security Council as permanent members as they were three democracies with a reasonable degree of stability and internal harmony, Mr. Amorim said.

That New Delhi seeks a close link with Brazil is evident from the fact that the Brazilian President, Mr. Lula da Silva will be the chief guest at India’s Republic Day celebrations on January 26, 2004.