Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar today arrived here in the Egyptian capital to take part in an important regional conference on environment and pledged India's "solidarity" with Africa on climate change issues.
Javadekar who will take part in the 15th African Ministerial Conference on Environment where India has been invited for the first time said that he was looking forward to a "fruitful" meeting.
"Arrived in Cairo today to a warm welcome from Egyptian Government, to attend the 15th African Ministerial Conference on Environment.
"This is 1st time India has been invited to participate in this conf. We are here to show our solidarity with Africa on Climate Change issues," Javadekar tweeted.
He said that he was looking forward to a "fruitful" meeting which will take place months after the Conference of Parties (CoP20) in Lima, Peru.
"Looking forward to a fruitful meeting, that is being held three months after the CoP20 in Lima, Peru," he said on microblogging site Twitter.
Javadekar would be speaking at the opening session of the Conference, where he will outline India's position on climate change, particularly in the context of the upcoming 21st COP of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC) in Paris in December 2015.
During his visit, he will hold meetings with his Egyptian counterpart, Khaled Fahmy, to discuss bilateral cooperation in the field of environment and the coordination of India's position with Egypt at the UNFCC talks.
He will also meet members of the Indian Community in a special function during his visit. India, along with China and France are special invitees to the Conference.
India has consistently maintained its position on climate change, in line with the universally accepted principle of common but differentiated responsibility.
It is undertaking ambitious climate actions including lowering of the emissions intensity of its economic growth, increasing energy efficiency across sectors and making greater use of renewable energy.
Javadekar also tweeted that he met Ghana's Deputy Minister for environment, science, technology Bernice Adiku Heloo on the sidelines of the conference.
