President Pranab Mukherjee on Sunday extended his greetings to the government and the people of the Republic of South Africa on the eve of the Freedom Day of South Africa on Monday, an official statement said.
In his message to South Africa President Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma, Mukherjee said: "It gives me great pleasure to extend to the friendly people of South Africa warm greetings and felicitations on behalf of me, the government and the Indian people on the occasion of the Freedom Day of South Africa."
"The relationship between India and South Africa is deeply rooted in the history and over the years, it has evolved into a strategic partnership characterized by multi-faceted engagement covering a range of activities in the political, economic and cultural fields," he said.
"Our cooperation under the IBSA (India, Brazil, South Africa) and the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) adds even greater value and substance to our engagement."
"I am confident that in the coming years, we will further reinforce our bilateral cooperation for the mutual benefit of the people of both the nations," Mukherjee said.
