‘ Africa summit will strengthen economic ties’

Expressing happiness over the fact that all the 54 African nations have confirmed their participation in the 3rd India- Africa Forum summit, which begins from October 26, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Friday that this makes it the biggest event of its sort.

Interacting with African journalists at the editors forum preceding the fourday summit, the PM said that it will help significantly in strengthening economic relations between India and the African nations.

“I think both India and Africa can feel proud of the fact that today the world is facing the problem of climate change, of the concerns regarding global warming, I think both India and Africa have had a tradition and it is in their cul- ture not to pollute or not to damage the environment, and we have perhaps sinned the less and contributed the minimum to this big problem to the world. I think this also is a common factor between India and Africa,” an official statement from the PMO, quoting Mr Modi said.

The MEA on Friday evening hailed the PM as having “inspired a new revolution which has made India the fastest growing major economies in the world,” adding that “his track record as an administrator who has placed development at the heart of the policies is unmatched.”

Ministry of external affairs spokesperson Vikas Swarup was quoted by the ministry as saying, “He ( Mr Modi) is the first leader who has been elected with a clear and comfortable majority in the last 30 years.”