India has said that it is committed to work closely with Seychelles to ensure the safety and security of the Indian Ocean region and to combat piracy and terrorism.

Talking to newsmen on board the special aircraft to Seychelles on Sunday, the President Mrs. Pratibha Devisingh Patil said that Seychelles and India share the waters of the Indian Ocean which is a strong bond between the two countries. Mrs. Patil said that both the countries are determined to work together to ensure a secure environment for the mutual benefit of their peoples.

Mrs. Patil reached Seychelles in the first leg of her two nation tour to Seychelles and South Africa. She said, Seychelles was re-admitted to the Indian Ocean Rim-Association for Regional Cooperation (IOR-ARC) during the IOR-ARC Ministerial meeting held in Bengaluru in November 2011 which provides India and Seychelles another forum to work together.

In Seychelles, Mrs. Patil will have a meeting with her counterpart James Alix Michel during which various aspects of bilateral relations and regional and international issues are expected to be discussed. A highlight of the Seychelles visit is that the President will address the Special Session of the National Assembly on Monday.

Talking about her visit to South Africa, Mrs. Patil said that India has a deep rooted historical ties with this country and shares a truly strategic and multi-faceted relationship. She said ,her visit to South Africa is an opportunity to strengthen the framework of co-operation and to reaffirm unique relationship.

Mrs. Patil said, South Africa is one of the closest strategic partners of India in the developing world and in the African continent. Both the countries are working together in various international fora including the United Nations Security Council, G-20, IBSA, BRICS, IOR-ARC and others.

Mrs.Patil said, India shares common perceptions with South Africa on trade issues and are closely coordinating its position on the Doha round of negotiations at the World trade Organization. She asserted that her visit to the friendly countries of Seychelles and South Africa is a part of India’s efforts to further consolidate its ties with Africa, foundations of which lie in a shared history of colonialism and struggle for freedom, as also in a common vision of
the development of two peoples. She said, Africa occupies an important position in India’s foreign policy.