Krishna meets African leaders ahead of LDC conference

New Delhi, Feb 17 (PTI) External Affairs Minister S MKrishna today met a number of visiting Africa ForeignMinisters who will participate in the India-LDC MinisterialConference starting tomorrow.

Krishna spoke to the delegation members of India''shistorical ties with Africa, which had been re-invigorated inrecent decades.

India, he noted, felt privileged to be the developmentpartner of fellow African nations, particularly LeastDeveloped Countries (LDCs), in accordance with theirpriorities and aspirations.

The India-LDC Ministerial Conference is taking place on18-19 February and representatives of 48 LDCs, including some35 Foreign Ministers, over 40 Permanent Representatives to theUN and other delegates, besides the representatives ofobserver countries, are expected to participate in the event.

Among those who interacted with Krishna include OsmanMohammed Saleh, Foreign Minister of Eritrea, Mohlabi Tsekoa,Foreign Minister of Lesotho, Augustin Nsanze, Foreign Ministerof Burundi and Hailemariam Desalegn, Foreign Minister ofEthiopia.