Modi, Zuma hold talks after ceremonial welcome in Pretoria

Pretoria, July 8 Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday sat down for bilateral talks with South African President Jacob Zuma after a ceremonial welcome accorded to him at the Union Buildings in Pretoria here.

"Adding renewed vigour to an old friendship. PM @narendramodi & @SAPresident discuss India-SA ties," tweeted the Prime Minister's Office, tagging the photos of both leaders shaking hands. 

"A South African beginning! Ceremonial welcome greets PM @narendramodi on arrival at Union Buildings, Pretoria," tweeted Vikas Swarup, official spokesperson, Ministry of External Affairs.

Modi arrived in South Africa on Thursday from Mozambique on the second leg of his four-nation African tour.

South African Minister for International Relations and Cooperation Nkoana Mashabane and Minister for Small Business Lindiwe Zulu welcomed Modi at Air Force Base, Waterkloof, in Pretoria.

After the delegation level talks between Modi and Zuma, both sides will issue press statements, which will be followed by an official lunch banquet hosted by President Zuma.

He will also attend a meeting with Indian and South African CEOs after which he will visit Constitution Hill, Johannesburg.

In the evening the Prime Minister will visit the Nelson Mandela Foundation. Later in the evening, he will address an Indian diaspora rally in Johannesburg following which he will leave for Durban.

On Saturday, the Prime Minister will visit Mahatma Gandhi's Phoenix Settlement in Durban and undertake a train journey to Pietermaritzburg in memory of the 1893 incident when Gandhi was thrown off a train carriage on account of his skin colour.

He will also attend a reception to be hosted by the Mayor of Durban.

Modi arrived in Mozambique on Thursday morning on the first leg of his African sojourn.

Modi will also visit Tanzania and Kenya.