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BEIJING, Oct. 30 (Xinhuanet) -- Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has pitched African nations for a "partnership of prosperity" at the India-Africa Summit. 54 African nations are in attendance, demonstrating India's efforts to become a global player.
It was the biggest diplomatic push yet by the Narendra Modi-led government. The India-Africa Summit saw 54 African nations and 41 heads of state come together in New Delhi to discuss the strengthening of ties. India promised 10 billion US dollars in new soft loans to back what Modi called a "partnership of prosperity" and pitched for one voice in an international push to reform the United Nations Security Council -- to further integrate developing nations.
"The world is undergoing a political, economic, technological and security transition on a scale and speed rarely seen in recent history yet our global institutions reflect the circumstances of the century that we left behind not the one we are in today," Modi said.
India plans to invest in Africa in the sectors of healthcare, agriculture, digital technology and resource management. New Delhi has previously committed 7.4 billion US dollars in soft loans and provided 1.2 billion dollars in grants since the first India-Africa summit in 2008.
India's outreach to Africa marks the start of a new era卆n era where India wants to end its non-aligned foreign policy and become a global player. But there's still a long way to go before India catches up with China's trade in Africa.
India's bilateral trade with Africa stands at 72 billion US dollars compared to China's 200 billion dollars in trade last year. Africa is now a global economic player with some of the world's fastest growing economies. For India, a robust relationship with the continent could fuel much of its projected growth into the future.
(Source: CNTV.cn)
