India to attend Arab League Summit at Riyadh on Mar 28-29

New Delhi, Mar 22 (UNI) India has been invited to attend the Arab League Summit to be held in Riyadh (Saudi Arabia) on March 28-29, an official spokesman said here today.

Minister of State for External Affairs E Ahamed will lead the Indian delegation at the two-day Ministerial-level Summit.

This is te third time that India will be attending the Summit. India had attended the earlier two Summits at Algiers in 2005 an Khartoum in 2006.

The spokesman said India attaches great importance to diversification and strengthening of relations with the Arab world and its people.

''In keeping with this sentiment, India has evolved close links with the Arab League since the early years of independence,'' the spokesman said.

India has the Observer status in the Arab League and the participation underlines the policy of enhancing the effectiveness of its relations with the Arab world.

India's participation in the Riyadh Summit assumes significance in the light of the recent developments regarding Palestine where a new Palestinian National Unity Government has been formed. India has already welcomed the formation of the Palestinian National Unity Government.

The spokesman said India's traditional support to the ''legitimate rights and aspirations'' of the Palestinian people is well-known and its relations with the Arab League have found reflection in individual Arab countries through assistance in a variety of projects.

''Today in a globalised world, new opportunities in trade and investment sectors are available for which closer economic cooperation between India and the Arab League is the futyre objective,'' the spokesman added.

UNI