PM Modi in South Africa: 5 Major Moments from His G20 Summit Trip

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Johannesburg during the G20 Leaders' Summit was marked by important diplomatic meetings and productive business engagements, plus a warm interaction with a large Indian diaspora.

His visit underlined India's continued focus on the Global South and the strengthening of a long-standing, strategic partnership with South Africa.

Apart from attending the G20 Summit, PM Modi's engagements during his time in Johannesburg included the following:

1. A Warm Welcome, Diaspora Focus: The PM received a ceremonial welcome at the airport with cultural events. His interaction with the 1.7 million-strong Indian diaspora during the entire visit was especially indicative of their strength as a "living bridge" between the nations and the role they play in consolidating people-to-people relations and the promotion of Indian culture.

2. This visit focused on the Global South agenda: The G20 Summit in Africa has been a first ever on the continent. PM Modi had put forth India's view and contributed based on the vision of "Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam," or "One Earth, One Family, One Future," which is the vision leading to the South African G20 theme, "Solidarity, Equality, and Sustainability."

3. Strengthening Bilateral Ties with Australia: A meeting with the PM underlined the continuing salience of the India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in areas such as security, trade, and the supply of critical minerals.

4. Boosting Investment and Technology Cooperation: The discussions for the enhancement of investment and technology cooperation involved Indian-origin tech entrepreneurs and business leaders, including Naspers executives, and focused on ways to encourage greater investment and collaboration with the Indian youth, especially in high-growth sectors like FinTech, AI, and medical devices.

5. Symbolic Cultural Exchange: The symbolic offering with a Kalash containing Shree Anna grown in both India and South Africa to the Annapoorna Devi Temple in Durban emphasized the shared cultural and agricultural connection and promoted the importance of millets, called Shree Anna.

PM Modi's Previous Visits to South Africa

The G20 Leaders' Summit 2025 in Johannesburg marked the fourth official visit of PM Modi to South Africa. His previous official visits included

• A bilateral visit in 2016.
• Attended the BRICS summits of 2018.
• To attend the BRICS summit in 2023

India-South Africa Relationship

The relation between India and South Africa is deep-rooted, with a shared history, strong political coordination, and increasing economic collaboration.

The ties go back more than a century to the 21 years of Mahatma Gandhi in South Africa between 1893 and 1914, where he evolved his philosophy of Satyagraha.

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India was also a strong supporter of the anti-apartheid movement, being the first country to break trade relations with the apartheid regime in 1946 and one that regularly pressed for sanctions at the UN and other international fora. Formal diplomatic relations were resumed in 1993-1994 after the end of apartheid.

The relationship was upgraded to a strategic partnership in 1997. Both countries are vibrant democracies and important members of the Global South and cooperate closely in multilateral forums such as BRICS and the IBSA Dialogue Forum (India, Brazil, and South Africa), established in 2003.

More than 1.7 million-strong diaspora binds the two countries through a 'living bridge' for maintaining historical ties and cultural reciprocity, including the promotion of yoga and Ayurveda.

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