ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, October 26, 2015/APO (African Press Organization)/ —
Senior African Officials began meeting with their Indian counterparts, today, Monday 26 October 2015, at the Indira Gandhi Stadium Complex in New Delhi, India, within the framework of the Third Africa-India Forum (AIFS-III).
Jointly organised by the African Union and the Government of India, the opening ceremony of the Senior Officials Meeting was co-chaired by H.E Mr. Albert Chimbindi,
Chairperson of the Permanent Representatives Committee (PRC) of the African Union and H.E Mr. Navtej Singh Sarna, Vice Minister of External Affairs of India, in the presence of H.E. Mrs. Jennifer Chiriga, Chief of Staff of the AU Commission and other African Union Officials.
The Senior Officials from both sides are exchanging views on ways to enhance their cooperation in various areas of common interests based on common values and aspirations of the African and Indian people with a view to achieving development, integration and prosperity as indicated in the AU Agenda 2063 and its First Ten Year Implementation Plan among others.
Ambassador Chimbindi in his opening remarks, underscored the importance for both parties to work together towards an inclusive economic growth for a sustainable development while achieving synergies on the shared core priorities as identified under the different areas of cooperation
The Senior Officials are deliberating on the Draft Africa-India Declaration and Framework for Strategic Cooperation, to be submitted to the Foreign Affairs Ministers meeting, scheduled to take place tomorrow, Tuesday 27 October 2015, for further discussion focusing on more concrete and implementable areas of cooperation that would impact positively on the lives of the peoples of both sides. The final documents will be submitted to the Heads of State and Government meeting on 29 October 2015, for adoption.
Worth recalling that, the Africa – India Forum Summit is a celebration of the close partnership between Africa and India. It is an acknowledgement of a shared history as well as future prospects. The First Africa-India Forum Summit was held in 2008 in New Delhi, India, while the Second Africa-India Forum Summit took place in 2011 at the headquarters of the African Union in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
