New Delhi: External Affairs Minister of India Sushma Swaraj has called for greater cooperation with African countries on counter terrorism and urged for adaption of comprehensive convention against international terrorism.
Addressing Foreign Minister’s meeting ahead of the India-Africa Forum Summit, IAFS, Sushma Swaraj said “India and Africa are engaged in a vital struggle to eliminate poverty and uplift our people.”
Pushing for UNSC reforms, the External Affairs Minister said India and Africa can no longer be excluded from the Security Council.
Talking about climate change, she said the problem of global warming can be addressed adequately through technological solutions and financial resources.
Swaraj said India and Africa are the most rapidly developing growing economies in the world, with trade growing rapidly. She said on development partnerships India has granted 9 billion for various developmental and capacity building projects and has implemented a total of 140 projects in 40 African countries. She said India-Africa cooperation is multi-faceted and growing.
The External Affairs Minister said India Africa Forum Summits are making an immense contribution towards the cooperation.
Speaking on United Nations Security Council, the minister highlighted how India and Africa can expect legitimacy from a structure that excludes the African continent and a country representing 1/6th of human population. She said, as against colonialism, India and Africa are engaged in an equally vital struggle to eliminate poverty and uplift the people.
Both India and Africa greatly value the commitment to work together to promote gender equality and women empowerment, she said, adding that African Union is celebrating this year as Women empowerment and Indian Government has taken flagship programmes like Beti Bachao Beti Padhao to protect and promote women’s rights.
