India supportive to have South Africa join BRIC

India remains very supportive  of South Africa joining the BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India, and  China) group soon, Indian High Commissioner Virendra Gupta  said at a function to mark the country's 64th Independence Day  in Johannesburg.

"India of course remains extremely supportive of South  Africa joining BRIC because India not only has its own  relationship with South Africa but would also like to see  opportunities for close collaboration with South Africa  strengthened further", Gupta said as he addressed South  African politicians, academics, and business leaders.

Gupta said India and South Africa had strong economics  relationships, which was an important hallmark of any  relationships in the present times, but that was not the only  level of the relationship between the two countries.

 

"We build upon our historical legacies; our cultural  connect; the presence of so many people of the Indian diaspora  here, and as important developing countries, we have much to  dialogue about; much to consult about and coordinate," the  High Commissioner said.

"The Indian government attaches a lot of priority to very  close connections (with South Africa) both at bilateral level  and at the regional multi-lateral level - in the G20 forum; in  the IBSA forum and we very much hope that South Africa will be  able to join BRIC in the not too distant future," Gupta said.