S. Africa made Gandhi a leader: Zuma
“You produced a lawyer and we produced a leader out of him”. This is how South African President Jacob Zuma on Thursday described the association of Mahatma Gandhi with his country. Gandhi’s thought and ideology greatly influenced the freedom movement there, Mr Zuma said.
“You produced a lawyer and we produced a leader out of him (Gandhi). The South African freedom struggle was greatly influenced by the thoughts and ideologies of Gandhi, the apostle of peace,” the visiting President said at a function organised by Ficci here.
He described India as the “elder brother” of South Africa and said both the countries stood by each other in the difficult times. “These difficulties helped us understand each other better. We have a history that is unique between the two countries. It is a relation of 150 years and the historic relations will keep on challenging generations to generations as to how to strengthen the ties further,” Mr Zuma, who is on his first official tour to India after taking over in May, said.
Seeking to enhance economic ties with India, Mr Zuma said he has brought a huge delegation of businessmen for improving trade relations between the two countries.
Bilateral trade has multiplied manifold over the last decade. While it was 2$.5 billion in 2002, it rose to $7.5 billion in 2008-09.
Mr Zuma also said he felt it proper to visit India ahead of his country hosting the soccer world cup this year.
“We thought that we should not get into 2010 (football world cup) without coming to India. We thought we should come to India to pay an official visit (before the event). That is why I am here,” he said. —PTI
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