Several African leaders to attend Africa-India summit, AU says

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The African Union (AU) Commission on Thursday disclosed here the name of African leaders who are scheduled to attend the African-Indian summit in New Delhi, the Indian capital, opening on 4 April 2008.

The AU Commission gave the list as the leaders of Tanzania, Ghana, Libya, Burkina Faso, DR Congo, Kenya, Uganda, Algeria, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Egypt and Ethiopia, as well as AU officials, including the newly elected chairperson of the commission, Jean Ping.

Prior to the heads of state summit on 8 April, ministers and experts will meet at the beginning of April in New Delhi.

The summit aims to reinforce the multidimensional relations existing between Africa and India, and share benefit from the rich historical background as well as natural resources of both Africa and India.

“To that effect, the Africa-India Forum would create an opportunity to give a new dimension to the Africa – India cooperation through a concrete action plan and declaration to be adopted during the Summit in New-Delhi,” the AU said.

The Africa-India Forum is also intended to consider the modalities to strengthen the cooperation ties between the two partners in the areas of economic; political; science and technology, research and development; tourism; infrastructure, energy and environment and media and communication.

The Forum would also be an occasion for the sharing and exchange of good practices in harnessing resources from the Diaspora.

“The Forum would be an opportunity to publicise Africa- India partnership. It will come up with concrete proposals and outcomes so as to push forward the existing cooperation between the two partners. The Forum is also expected to adopt a joint declaration of the Africa – India partnership that would contain the political commitments of the two sides, as well as an Africa – India framework for cooperation,” the AU added.

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