President Drupadi Murmu poses for a photo with locals in Lilongwe, October 18, 2024 | Photo courtesy of ANI
President Drupadi Murmu returned on Saturday after a three-nation visit to Algeria, Mauritania and Malawi, setting a new benchmark for India-Africa relations. This is the first visit by an Indian head of state to three African countries.
Mr Murmu concluded his visit to Malawi and held "productive" discussions with his Malawian counterpart Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera on ways to deepen bilateral cooperation in various areas including agriculture, mining, tourism and energy.
“President Drupadi Murmu @rashtrapatibhvn flew to New Delhi after successfully completing his three-nation visit to Algeria, Mauritania and Malawi, setting a new milestone in India-Africa relations,” Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) ) said in a post to X.
Earlier, Murmu visited the Radha Krishna temple here, which is “an important center of socio-cultural activity for the Indian diaspora in Malawi,” her office said in a post on X.
“Before leaving Malawi, the President also visited Lake Malawi, a biodiversity hotspot and home to over 1,000 species of fish,” the post said. He added that the lake plays a central role in Malawi’s economy, with more than a third of the country’s population dependent on it for livelihood, fresh water, transportation and electricity.
On Friday, Mr Murmu witnessed the signing of bilateral agreements in the fields of arts and culture, sports and pharmaceutical cooperation.
In Mauritania, the President met with Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani to discuss ways to further strengthen bilateral relations. She signed several memoranda of understanding, including training for diplomats and visa waivers.
During his visit to Algeria, the President was awarded an honorary doctorate. He met with Algeria’s Abdelmadjid Tebboune and agreed to review bilateral relations between the two countries and strengthen cross-sectoral ties.
Murmu’s three-nation visit reflects India’s “deep desire” to strengthen its partnerships with African countries, the MEA said in a press release ahead of the trip.
Published – October 19, 2024 11:56 PM IST
