African envoys stress on closer cooperation with India

Ahead of India-Africa summit later this year, ambassadors and diplomats from African countries today stressed upon closer cooperation between the two nations in trade, education and economic development.
As many as 42 ambassadors and diplomats from several African countries were felicitated by NGO -- Delhi Study Group -- at a function here.
Gennet Zewide, Dean of African Mission in India, said there is a need to create people-to-people dynamism among the people of the two countries.
"Africa is not one country, it is 52 countries having their own culture and customs. We have good government-to -government relationship but what we are lacking is a dynamic interaction between the two nations. Unless people of India and Africa come together, the bond will not be strengthened," Zewide, who is also the Ambassador of Embassy of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, said.

On the occasion, Delhi Study Group's president Vijay Jolly said, "There has been long pending demand of African Mission in India that Prime Minister should also undertake a visit to African continent. China has also ready taken leaps and bounds in that direction.
"One-fourth of the population in the world is from African countries and so it will be good opportunity for India to explore economic ties with these nations," he said.
India will host India-Africa summit in October.