The President of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovind, addressed
members of the Parliament of Equatorial Guinea yesterday evening (April 8,
2018).
Speaking on the occasion, the President said that all three
of his state visits since taking over as President of India in July 2017 have
been to Africa. This is acknowledgement of India’s close and abiding
relationship with the African continent.
The President said that Equatorial Guinea and India have
shared attributes and challenges. Equatorial Guinea represents one of Africa’s
strongest economies. India is the world’s fastest-growing major economy. The
aspiration for both of us is to take urgent and necessary steps to become
developed countries, to bring the benefits of our economic growth to all
sections of our societies, and to create an environment for young people to
realise their potential. In this India is ready to support Equatorial Guinea as
per its developmental priorities, and as per a process shaped and led by it.
The President said that as Equatorial Guinea seeks to
diversify its economy from the oil and gas sector, it will find India a
credible partner. We can work together to build capacities in agriculture and
mining, in fisheries and public health, in food processing and telecom and IT.
Geologists from India can assist Equatorial Guinea’s technical specialists in surveying
and mapping natural resources. Indian agricultural technologists can help
analyse the composition of soil on a particular farm or in a particular region.
Such knowledge can enable farmers to identify the right nutrients for the soil
– and improve productivity.
The President said that the Equatorial Guinea-India
partnership is for both our countries, but it is also a partnership for the
world. As sea-faring societies, we are equally conscious of the safety and
security of our oceans – and of the continued need for a transparent and
rules-based order of maritime governance. The Atlantic and Indian Oceans are
sisters. Their oceanic systems are interlinked – and so are their security
challenges and, often, the threats of humanitarian disasters.
These challenges, President Kovind said, have to be met with
concerted efforts. Our countries must collaborate more on maritime security. We
must work together to ensure that the seas spread harmony, create friendships
and promote trade and commerce. In defence as much as in disaster planning and
preparedness, India would be glad to cooperate still more with Equatorial
Guinea, and offer its technical and other capacities.
The President congratulated Equatorial Guinea for having
been elected to the United Nations Security Council for a two-year term that
began in January this year. He said that India wishes to work with Equatorial
Guinea to make the UN more effective, more equitable, and more reflective of
today’s realities. He was confident that Equatorial Guinea will play an active
role in highlighting issues related to Africa and to developing countries in
general – as well as challenges that are of a global nature.
The President said that the menace of terrorism is a sad
reality of our times. Terrorism is a global challenge, but it is being dealt
with piecemeal. A comprehensive global strategy needs to be established. In
this regard, India seeks Equatorial Guinea’s support for early adoption of the
Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism at the UN.
Later, the President met and addressed the Indian community
in Malabo at a community reception hosted by Shri Sushil Kumar Singhal,
Ambassador of India to Equatorial Guinea.
Addressing the gathering, the President said that every
member of the Indian community was critical to strengthening relations between
India and Equatorial Guinea. There is only one diplomatic ambassador appointed
by the Government of India, but all members of the Indian community in this
country are cultural ambassadors of India. He urged the community to help
enhance business and cultural links between the two countries.
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