30th Anniversary of India's Diplomatic Relations with South Africa

On August 3, 2023, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had a telephonic conversation with South African President Matemela Cyril Ramaphosa to commemorate the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between India and South Africa.

During the call, both leaders expressed satisfaction with the progress in bilateral cooperation, especially in light of the upcoming celebration of 30 years of diplomatic ties in 2023.

PM Modi accepts invitation to 15th BRICS summit:

• President Ramaphosa extended an invitation to Prime Minister Modi to attend the 15th BRICS Summit, scheduled to be held in Johannesburg from August 22 to 24, 2023.

• The South African President also provided an update on the preparations for the summit. In response, Prime Minister Modi graciously accepted the invitation, expressing his eagerness to visit Johannesburg and participate in the summit.

• The two leaders also engaged in discussions on various regional and global issues of mutual interest, reflecting the strong ties between India and South Africa.

• President Ramaphosa conveyed his full support to India's efforts as the current Chair of the G-20 and expressed his anticipation for the G-20 Summit, which he intended to attend during his visit to India.

• Furthermore, both leaders agreed to enhance mutual communication and strengthen their bilateral relationship further.

• It's worth noting that the 14th BRICS summit was conducted virtually under China's hosting. 

BRICS :

• BRICS is an acronym representing the five major emerging economies: Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.

• Initially, the term "BRIC" was coined in 2001 by British economist Jim O'Neill to describe the emerging economies of Brazil, Russia, India, and China. 

• South Africa joined the group later in December 2010, and it was officially named BRICS.

• Together, these nations constitute 41% of the global population, 24% of global GDP, and 16% of global trade.