New Delhi, As the world grapples with complex geopolitical challenges, the India-Africa partnership assumes significant importance, serving as a message of stability and reliability in a turbulent and uncertain world, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Thursday.
Addressing a gathering at the unveiling of the logo, theme, and website for the upcoming India-Africa Forum Summit-IV, Jaishankar emphasized that together, India and Africa are not just development partners but also 'partners in shaping a better world.'
The logo for the upcoming summit features a lion superimposed on an image depicting interlocked maps of India and Africa, carrying the theme 'Enduring Partnership Shared Vision' and the date of the summit, -31.
Jaishankar said the upcoming summit presents a 'unique opportunity' to further 'deepen our engagement,' offering a platform to shape the next phase of the partnership, 'one that is more ambitious, more inclusive, and more future-oriented.'
He underlined that India has expanded its diplomatic footprint in Africa in recent years by opening 17 new missions across the continent, taking the number of Indian missions in Africa to 46.
Africa occupies a 'central place' in India's foreign policy today, and New Delhi's engagement with it is guided by a clear vision, rooted in the principle of equality, and of mutual respect and shared progress, Jaishankar emphasized.
The India-Africa relationship is rooted in 'our civilisational linkages,' nurtured over centuries through cultural exchanges and human interactions, the external affairs minister said.
The minister underscored that the Viksit Bharat 2047 vision and Africa's Agenda 2063 are complementary roadmaps towards prosperity and progress through sustainable growth and inclusive development.
Jai Shankar also said that the engagement between India and Africa has grown across key pillars with numerous high-level political interactions, with India consistently supporting Africa's rightful place in global governance.
