African leaders to attend solar meet March 11

◗ Sri Lankan President Sirisena will be visiting India at a time when the current situation in his island- nation is volatile after reports of Buddhist-Muslim clashes

With India getting ready to extend massive financial assistance for development projects to Africa that is expected to counter Chinese influence there, heads and deputy heads of government/ state of African countries will form the majority of foreign dignitaries attending the “founding conference” of the International Solar Alliance ( ISA) — a global initiative of Prime Minister Narendra Modi — that will take place in New Delhi on March 11.

Among dignitaries from other continents, French President Emmanuel Macron, Ven- ezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena, Bangladesh President Abdul Hamid and Australian Governor General Sir Peter Cosgrove are also attending the conference. The presence of the French President was seen as essential at the conference since the ISA was launched jointly by India and France in 2015.

With the conference taking place on Sunday, dignitaries will start reaching New Delhi between Thursday evening and Saturday morning. Important bilateral meetings are also expected to be held on Saturday between PM Modi and some of the visiting dignitaries ahead of the ISA conference on Sunday in the capital.

India and France have close ties in several sectors, including defence, and India is already acquiring 36 state- of- theart Rafale fighter aircraft from France, a deal that became controversial due to the Opposition in India raising questions about the pricing. Sri Lankan President Sirisena will be visiting India at a time when the current situation in his island- nation is volatile after reports of Buddhist- Muslim clashes there. Another keenly watched visit will be that of Venezuelan President Maduro, whose relationship with the West, especially the US, is severely strained. Even as India’s ties with the US continues to grow stronger, the Venezuelan President was extremely keen to visit India.