Prime Minister Manmohan Singh arrived in Durban on Saturday on his first-ever visit to South Africa, a country that was highly critical of India's nuclear tests, but now appears to be willing to cooperate in civilian nuclear energy with New Delhi.
A number of bilateral agreements on a wide range of subjects including one on preferential trade are expected to be signed during Singh's four-day visit, one of the highlights of which is his participation in the centenary celebrations to commemorate the launch of Satyagraha by Mahatma Gandhi.
Nuclear cooperation will be among the key subjects of discussions between Singh and South African President Thabo Mbeki with Indian sources hoping for a 'positive and pragmatic' approach from South Africa on it.
A member of the 45-nation Nuclear Suppliers Group, this uranium-rich country has indicated that it was willing to cooperate in nuclear energy. NSG will have to back the Indo-US nuclear deal if it goes through, to enable India to receive nuclear fuel.