New Delhi/UNI: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar will be on an official visit to South Africa from June 1-3 to attend the BRICS Foreign Ministers meeting, and to Namibia from June 4-6, in the first visit by an Indian External Affairs Minister to the southern African nation.

In South Africa, besides participating in the BRICS Foreign Ministers meeting in Cape Town, EAM will also hold a bilateral meeting with his South African counterpart Naledi Pandor.

He will call on President Cyril Ramaphosa and is expected to hold bilateral meetings with other BRICS Foreign Ministers and participating ‘Friends of BRICS’ Ministers from other countries. He will also have an interaction with the Indian Diaspora in Cape Town, a statement said.

EAM Jaishankar will then visit Namibia in the first visit by an External Affairs Minister of India to Namibia. During the visit EAM will call on the top leadership of the country and also meet with other Ministers of the Government.

EAM will also co-chair the inaugural Session of the Joint Commission Meeting with the Namibian Deputy Prime Minister/ Foreign Minister Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah. He will also interact with the Indian Diaspora based in Namibia.

EAM’s visit to South Africa and Namibia is expected to further strengthen India’s strong bilateral relations with these two countries, the statement added.