New Delhi: African Union Chairperson Azali Assoumani Sunday thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his “unwavering” support for the 55-nation grouping’s inclusion in the G20.
Assoumani, who is also the President of the Comoros, called India the “fifth superpower of the world”, saying it is so powerful “that it went to space”. He was speaking to the media after the conclusion of the New Delhi G20 Summit.
“As a superpower in terms of inhabitants [population], it is ahead of China now,” Assoumani added.
On joining the G20, Assoumani said it was the “culmination of a long struggle initiated by my predecessors and in particular President Macky Sall of the Republic of Senegal (and former African Union chair)”.
“…This opportunity for the AU to join the G20 will allow us to work together in synergy towards our common goals of peace, security, stability and socio-economic progress,” he added.
“This membership in the G20 of the African Union, which is composed of 55 member countries and has a trillion-dollar GDP is a diplomatic victory, a strong signal and a great opportunity for our continent to better defend its interests at the centre of global economic governance,” he added.
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On China
Asked about Africa’s relationship with China — Beijing is natural-resource-rich Africa’s largest trade partner, and the latter has received billions of dollars in loans under China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) — Assoumani said “China has always been in favour of the membership of Africa into the G20”.
“So, China already has great cooperation with Africa. Other countries are going to join so that we can have win-win cooperation,” he added.
On whether Africa is open to investment from other countries apart from China, Assoumani said, “Be assured that Africa has 66 percent of arable land, a population of 1.3 billion and very soon it will reach 2 billion inhabitants. Africa has enough material resources for all countries and all continents who would like to invest in the continent [Africa].”
“Africa has human and natural resources — a lot of potential. So, nobody has the monopoly in Africa — all the countries and all the continents who would like to get involved into Africa, they have room to. Europe is also in Africa. So, the most important thing is to sit together, to work together and see who can do what for the benefit of Africa,” he added.
Talking about India’s relationship with the Comoros, an island nation that lies off Africa’s east coast, Assoumani said it has a good future. “We have always had a good relationship with India. I remember that Indian people have been in the Comoros for centuries and they are doing trade there and we have never had any problem with Indian people living in the Comoros,” he added.
(Edited by Sunanda Ranjan)
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