New Delhi
1 April 2008
India will re-engage West Asia by participating in the second
ministerial meeting of Asia Middle East Dialogue, to be held at Sharm El Sheikh in Egypt,
on April 5 and 6. Jamia Millia Islamia Vice Chairman Prof Mushirul Hasan is expected to
head an Indian delegation for this meeting.
India's participation in the Sharm El Sheikh meeting follows the recently concluded Arab
Summit at Damascus in Syria. Minister of State of External Affairs E Ahamed represented
India at the Summit. On the occasion Mr Ahamed said India has strong relations of
friendship with the Arab countries and seeks to continuously develop them. India, he has
said, is interested in the stability and prosperity of the region and is keen on
strengthening cooperation with the Arab world.
Singapore hosted the inaugural Asia Middle East Dialogue in June 2005. The Indian
delegation to the inaugural meeting was led by Mr Hamid Ansari, who assumed office of
Vice President on August 11, 2007. India and 49 other countries, including China and
Iran, are members of Asia Middle East Dialogue.
Union Minister of Tourism and Culture Ambika Soni is expected to visit Egypt, too. India,
in turn, will host at least five Egyptian delegations over the new few weeks, starting with
the visit of Minister of International Cooperation Mrs Fayza Abul Naga week. Mrs Fayza
will be here from April 7 to 10 for the India-Africa Summit. Mrs Fayza is one of only two
women in the Egyptian Cabinet. She became the first Egyptian woman diplomat to reach
the highest echelons of her profession when she was appointed minister of state for
foreign affairs a few years ago.
India will also receive Egyptian Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation Amin
Abaza, Minister of Foreign Trade and Industry Rashid Mohammad Rashid, Minister of
Transport Mohd Mansoor and Deputy Minister and Chairman of Government Authority for
Investment Asim Ragab.
The Sharm El Sheikh meeting will be opened by Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs
Ahmed Aboul Gheit. The theme will be "Partnership in Action Towards a Better Future."
The Asia Middle East Dialogue was conceived by Senior Minister and former Prime
Minister Goh Chok Tong of Singapore to foster dialogue and mutual understanding as
well as strengthen cooperation between Asia and the Middle East in different areas.
No comments:
Post a Comment