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News Topical, Digital Desk : President Draupadi Murmu arrived in Angola on Saturday, the first stop on her six-day African trip, after which she will travel to neighboring Botswana.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has described this two-nation visit from November 8 to 13 as part of India's efforts to open new avenues of cooperation and enhance partnership with these two countries in the African region.
President Murmu received a rousing welcome
According to the Ministry of External Affairs, this is the first visit by an Indian head of state to these countries. President Murmu was received at the international airport in Luanda, the capital of Angola, by Foreign Minister Tate Antonio and senior officials from both countries.
What is President Murmu's program?
Over the next three days, the President will hold high-level meetings here, including bilateral talks with her Angolan counterpart Joao Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço, and will also attend the celebrations of the African country's 50th anniversary of independence.
The President will also address the Parliament of Angola and interact with members of the Indian community. "India and Angola have very close ties of friendship and cooperation that are growing across all sectors. We have a strong energy partnership with Angola," Sudhakar Dalela, Secretary (Economic Relations) in the Ministry of External Affairs, said at a press briefing on Thursday.
Why is this visit important?
He said the visit will provide an opportunity to review the entire gamut of relations between the two countries and enhance mutually beneficial cooperation in sectors such as agriculture, health, energy, trade and investment, technology, infrastructure development, defence, and people-to-people ties. The Secretary also said the visit is "significant" as the two countries are celebrating the 40th anniversary of their diplomatic relations this year.
The second phase of the Yatra will begin on November 11.
President Murmu will begin the second leg of her visit on November 11th and travel to Gaborone, the capital of Botswana. As part of her engagements there, she will meet with her counterpart, Duma Gideon Boko, address the National Assembly, and attend an event related to the reintroduction of cheetah cheetahs to India.
The Secretary said, "We are confident that this visit by the Honourable President will further strengthen India's long-standing cooperation with Angola and Botswana, open new avenues of cooperation, and enhance our partnership. As I said earlier, it also demonstrates India's strong commitment to further strengthen its diverse partnerships with the African continent."
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