New Delhi: South African President Thabo Mbeki arrived in New Delhi on October 15, for a five-day visit to India during which he would hold intensive parleys with Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee on the entire gamut of bilateral issues besides exchanging views on major regional and international developments.

Mbeki was received at the Indira Gandhi International airport by Minister of State for External Affairs Digvijay Singh, South African envoy Maite Nkoana-Mashabane and Indian High Commissioner to South Africa Shiv Mukherjee.

During his stay, India and South Africa will sign four accords relating to extradition, mutual legal assistance and co-operation in power sector and culture.

The two sides would also negotiate agreements on framework preferential trade, bilateral investment protection and promotion, co-operation in health and medicine, maritime transport and in hydrocarbons.

Mbeki, who last visited India in 1996 as Deputy President, will meet the Prime Minister on October 16. The South African leader, who is heading a high-power delegation, will also have meetings with Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani and Defence Minister George Fernandes.

President A P J Abdul Kalam will host a banquet for Mbeki on October 15 after which he will fly to Hyderabad.

Mbeki's delegation includes 11 ministers. Among them are Essop Pahad, Minister in the Presidency, N C Dlamini Zuma (Foreign Affairs) and those holding key portfolios of trade and industry, communications, environmental affairs and tourism, agriculture and land affairs, public enterprises and minerals and energy.

PTI