By KUNA
New Delhi : India Wednesday stressed that it was not in race or competition with China in reaching out to Africa as New Delhi and African nations declared a plan of action to deepen and expand their partnership.
The first ever two-day India Africa Forum Partnership Summit, which ended here today, adopted a *Delhi Declaration and ‘Framework for Cooperation’, outlining ways in which the two sides will implement joint programmes to build a meaningful and productive partnership.
Addressing a joint press meet with the African leaders at the end of the Summit, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said: The Summit was held in an atmosphere of great friendship, warmth and sense of partnership.” Over the last two-days, we had a very constructive discussion on issues such as food and energy security, UN reforms, climate change and trade. We found several commonalities in the challenges that face usK I also offered Indian assistance in ushering in a Green Revolution in Africa, he said, adding, India’s pan-African e-network project is an example of our cooperation at the continent wide level. We in turn hope that this Summit has enabled us to convey to the people of Africa India’s readiness to be a partner in their quest for stability, peace and prosperity We wish to be partners in Africa’s resurgence.
Answering a question, Dr Manmohan Singh stressed that India was not in race or competition with China or any other country in reaching out to Africa.
The summit was attended by the leaders of 14 African countries including 10 heads of state and government The ‘Delhi Declaration’ issued at the summit reflects the commitment of India and Africa to further strengthen cooperation at the UN, G-77 and other multi-lateral to ensure urgent and comprehensive reform of the United Nations, particularly expansion of the Security Council in both permanent and non-permanent categories. It calls for specific steps to reduce and finally eliminate nuclear weapons, jointly combat global terrorism and make efforts towards expeditious finalisation of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism at the UN. The Declaration also emphasises the need for equitable and fair burden sharing in mitigation of climate change. The ‘Framework for Cooperation’ lists various measures for strengthening cooperation between India and Africa in agriculture, trade, industry and investment, small and medium enterprises, finance, regional integration and strengthen political cooperation for ensuring peace and security, civil society and good governance The Framework also calls for provision of technical assistance to support establishment of financial institutions of the African Union (AU), cross-fertilisation of experiences of India and the AU in peace-keeping and post-conflict reconstruction and cooperation against terrorism and terror financing.
India and Africa also agreed to jointly develop an Action Plan within one year at a continental level and an appropriate followup mechanism to implement the Framework for Cooperation.