ID :
183941
Mon, 05/23/2011 - 21:47
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/183941
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India seeks strong ties with Africa; PM reaches Addis Ababa
From V Mohan Narayan
Addis Ababa, May 23 (PTI) Seeking a "strong and
purposeful partnership" with Africa, Indian Prime Minister
Manmohan Singh on Monday embarked on a mission to cement
bilateral ties and "revitalise" engagement with the resource
rich continent.
Singh who arrived here in the Ethiopian capital on the
first leg of his two-nation visit, was accorded a red carpet
welcome. He will attend the Second Africa-India Forum Summit
here which aims to cement India's ties with the resource-rich
continent.
Singh was given a rousing reception and was welcomed
by Ethiopian deputy prime minister Hailemariam Desalegn and
Indian Ambassador to Ethiopia B S Bishnoi. He also inspected a
guard of honour.
"Relations between India and Africa are marked by
strong people-to-people interaction and a deep sense of
solidarity and goodwill," Singh said earlier in New Delhi in
his departure statement.
"Both Africa and India have the advantage of a
youthful population, commitment to democracy, pluralism and
spirit of entrepreneurship. The large population of people of
Indian origin in all parts of Africa is a living testimony to
our historical links," he said.
These are compelling factors for a "strong and
purposeful partnership" between India and Africa that responds
to the realities of the 21st Century, he added.
15 African countries are set to participate in the
summit, where Singh is also expected to make a strong pitch
for UN reforms.
Singh will also co-chair the Summit with the President
of Equatorial Guinea, Obiang Nguema Mbasogo in his current
capacity as chairperson of the African Union (AU).
The leaders will discuss significant aspects of the
India-Africa partnership with the objective of enhancing and
widening its ambit for mutual benefit.
The Summit is expected to come out with the Addis
Ababa Declaration setting out the roadmap for further
consolidating the strategic partnership between India and the
African Union. An Africa-India Framework for Enhanced
Cooperation will also be firmed up at the Summit.
Asked to comment on China's huge inroads in Africa
"We are not in any competition with China," sources said that
"our relations with Africa stand on their own".
"We look at Africa as the growth pole in the future,"
they said questioning attempts by the west to pit China and
India against each other on Africa.
Chinese presence has grown rapidly in the African
countries mainly concentrated on large infrastructure projects
like roads and railways while India is assisting in
capacity-building, agriculture, floriculture as also small
business which is scattered around.
The Second Africa-India Forum Summit here will be a
landmark event that will for the first time bring together a
large gathering of African leaders to meet with India on
African soil.
"Today, both Africa and India are on the move. Africa
is emerging as a new growth pole of the world, while India is
on a path of sustained and rapid economic development.
Relations between India and Africa are marked by
strong people-to-people interaction and a deep sense of
solidarity and goodwill," Singh said.
Singh, who will also visit Tanzania, said India has
excellent political and economic relations with it, which
dates back to the days of Julius Nyerere and the Non-Aligned
Movement.
"Our cooperation has expanded in recent years in
diverse sectors. We wish to enhance the substance of this
partnership in consonance with the developmental priorities of
Tanzania. I look forward to my discussions with President
Jakaya Kikwete to this end," he said.
Earlier, External Affairs Minister S M Krishna,
addressing the Foreign Ministers' Meeting of the 2nd
Africa-India Forum Summit here said that India is "glad to
note that its partnership with Africa is marked by a frank and
open consultative mechanism."
"We meet as partners who not just highlight their
needs and expectations but bring forth historical goodwill and
empathy," he said.
"We fully appreciate each other's abilities as well as
constraints," he said, while describing the First India Africa
Forum Summit in New Delhi three years ago as, "a landmark
event which re¬-defined the contours of India-Africa
relations."
The Summit provided us with a design of a three-tiered
cooperation at the Pan African, the regional as well as the
bilateral levels, he said.
Addis Ababa, May 23 (PTI) Seeking a "strong and
purposeful partnership" with Africa, Indian Prime Minister
Manmohan Singh on Monday embarked on a mission to cement
bilateral ties and "revitalise" engagement with the resource
rich continent.
Singh who arrived here in the Ethiopian capital on the
first leg of his two-nation visit, was accorded a red carpet
welcome. He will attend the Second Africa-India Forum Summit
here which aims to cement India's ties with the resource-rich
continent.
Singh was given a rousing reception and was welcomed
by Ethiopian deputy prime minister Hailemariam Desalegn and
Indian Ambassador to Ethiopia B S Bishnoi. He also inspected a
guard of honour.
"Relations between India and Africa are marked by
strong people-to-people interaction and a deep sense of
solidarity and goodwill," Singh said earlier in New Delhi in
his departure statement.
"Both Africa and India have the advantage of a
youthful population, commitment to democracy, pluralism and
spirit of entrepreneurship. The large population of people of
Indian origin in all parts of Africa is a living testimony to
our historical links," he said.
These are compelling factors for a "strong and
purposeful partnership" between India and Africa that responds
to the realities of the 21st Century, he added.
15 African countries are set to participate in the
summit, where Singh is also expected to make a strong pitch
for UN reforms.
Singh will also co-chair the Summit with the President
of Equatorial Guinea, Obiang Nguema Mbasogo in his current
capacity as chairperson of the African Union (AU).
The leaders will discuss significant aspects of the
India-Africa partnership with the objective of enhancing and
widening its ambit for mutual benefit.
The Summit is expected to come out with the Addis
Ababa Declaration setting out the roadmap for further
consolidating the strategic partnership between India and the
African Union. An Africa-India Framework for Enhanced
Cooperation will also be firmed up at the Summit.
Asked to comment on China's huge inroads in Africa
"We are not in any competition with China," sources said that
"our relations with Africa stand on their own".
"We look at Africa as the growth pole in the future,"
they said questioning attempts by the west to pit China and
India against each other on Africa.
Chinese presence has grown rapidly in the African
countries mainly concentrated on large infrastructure projects
like roads and railways while India is assisting in
capacity-building, agriculture, floriculture as also small
business which is scattered around.
The Second Africa-India Forum Summit here will be a
landmark event that will for the first time bring together a
large gathering of African leaders to meet with India on
African soil.
"Today, both Africa and India are on the move. Africa
is emerging as a new growth pole of the world, while India is
on a path of sustained and rapid economic development.
Relations between India and Africa are marked by
strong people-to-people interaction and a deep sense of
solidarity and goodwill," Singh said.
Singh, who will also visit Tanzania, said India has
excellent political and economic relations with it, which
dates back to the days of Julius Nyerere and the Non-Aligned
Movement.
"Our cooperation has expanded in recent years in
diverse sectors. We wish to enhance the substance of this
partnership in consonance with the developmental priorities of
Tanzania. I look forward to my discussions with President
Jakaya Kikwete to this end," he said.
Earlier, External Affairs Minister S M Krishna,
addressing the Foreign Ministers' Meeting of the 2nd
Africa-India Forum Summit here said that India is "glad to
note that its partnership with Africa is marked by a frank and
open consultative mechanism."
"We meet as partners who not just highlight their
needs and expectations but bring forth historical goodwill and
empathy," he said.
"We fully appreciate each other's abilities as well as
constraints," he said, while describing the First India Africa
Forum Summit in New Delhi three years ago as, "a landmark
event which re¬-defined the contours of India-Africa
relations."
The Summit provided us with a design of a three-tiered
cooperation at the Pan African, the regional as well as the
bilateral levels, he said.
