By Martin Hacthoun, Prensa Latina
New Delhi : African heads of State urged here on Tuesday to strengthen South-South cooperation to face the economic, commercial and political challenges their nations are facing in the struggle for development.
“We could strengthen cooperation between our countries only through an equal association in our battle for a fair global trade and making the international entities respond to our realities,” noted South Africa president Thabo Mbeki.
Mbeki is one of the 14 countries leaders representing different regions that are attending the First Indo-African Summit that has been inaugurated under the slogan ‘Dynamic Association, Shared Vision.’
“We must join efforts to fight our countries’ common enemy: poverty,” said Mbeki in his speech at the event which venue is Vigyan Bhawan Convention Palace in New Delhi.
After criticizing the current inequity of global trade imposed by wealthy nations the African Union President Alpha Oumar Konare warned can contact how its richness goes away and its results while its food market falls.
In this sense Zambia vice president Ruypiah Banda called to assume a common position, particularly the World Trade Organization, to demand more fair and equal markets as well as better markets for our productions.
African leaders appreciated India for developing equal economic relations and for the different aids programs in the continent like the Internet Pan African Project that will allow connecting the 53 UA members.
The Summit will conclude on Wednesday with the signing of Delhi declaration and the Indian-African Cooperation’s outline agreement.