Manmohan leaves for Indonesia

Manmohan leaves for Indonesia

Friday, April 22, 2005 (New Delhi):

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has left to attend the second Asian African Summit at Jakarta.

Singh today said the New Asian African Strategic Partnership Declaration to be signed at the Summit would be a forward-looking framework intended to build a bridge of understanding and support among countries of the two continents.

"We would sign a Declaration on a New Asian African Strategic Partnership renewing and reaffirming our commitment to the values enshrined in the original Bandung Conference", he said before leaving for Indonesia.

Talks with leaders

During his three-day visit in Indonesia, Singh will hold talks with a number of leaders including Chinese President Hu Jintao and Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai.

He will also meet Indonesian President Susilo Yudhoyono.

Singh will participate in a walk along with other leaders in Bandung to relive the memories of the historic 1955 Summit in which India played a key role under the leadership of then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru resulting in the birth of the non-aligned movement. (With Wire Inputs)