NEW DELHI, Feb 16 (KUNA) — Indias External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee Saturday began a five-day visit to Latin Americas biggest country Brazil, and South Africa to strengthen and expand bilateral ties.
Mukherjee will be in Brazil on a three-day visit during which he will hold talks with his Brazilian counterpart Celso Amorim on a wide array of bilateral issues, an Indian External Affairs Ministry statement said here today.
The Indian Foreign Minister will also call on Brazilian President Lula da Silva. India and Brazil are expected to ink a few agreements during the visit, the statement added.
India will host the third India-Brazil-South Africa summit later this year and discussions will also be held on measures to strengthen South-South Cooperation.
Mukherjee will be visiting South Africa for two-days from February 21. India and South Africa will hold the seventh meeting of their joint commission during the Foreign Ministers visit.
Mukherjee will hold discussions with his South African counterpart Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, South African President Thabo Mbeki and the newly elected African National Congress president Jacob Zuma.
India and South Africa will sign four agreements during Mukherjee’s visit. A crucial agreement on visa-free travel by the holders of diplomatic and official passports will be signed. Three other agreements will be in areas of customs, agriculture and science and technology, the statement added.