H.E. Mr Moctar Ouane, Minister of Foreign Affairs & International Cooperation, Republic of Mali paid a working visit to India from 8-13th October, 2009. He was accompanied by a high-level delegation comprising of Mr. Sanoussi Toure, Minister of Economy and Finance and Mr. Mamadou Diarra, Minister of Energy and Water.

The visiting Malian minister held extensive discussions with Dr Shashi Tharoor, Minister of State for External Affairs on October 9, 2009 during which both the leaders reviewed the entire gamut of bilateral relations between the two countries, besides exchanging views on important international and regional issues of common interest.

The visiting Malian Foreign Minister conveyed the complete solidarity of the government and people of Mali with India and its people in their resolve to combat the scourge of terrorism. Mali has pledged to work with India at the international levels to tackle the growing menace of terrorism. The two sides also agreed to collaborate and synchronise their efforts within the UN framework for the earliest adoption of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT). India expressed its support for the Conference on Peace, Security and Development in the Sahelo Saharian region organised by the Government of Mali.

While appreciating the leadership role played by India in promoting peace at regional and international levels, the Malian Foreign Minister offered the support of his government for India's candidature for the Non-Permanent Seat for the term 2011-12, for which elections would be held in October 2010. The two sides agreed to work together for the UN reform with an emphasis on the expansion of the UNSC.

The Indian side appreciated the regional peace-keeping efforts of Mali in Africa and reiterated its offer for providing training facilities to Mali to augment its peace-keeping capabilities.

The Malian side underlined the pioneering role played by India in consistently extending support and cooperation to African countries within the framework of South-South Cooperation, which has been enhanced significantly after the first India-Africa Forum Summit meeting held in New Delhi in April 2008.

The Malian side expressed keenness to develop a dynamic partnership with India in various fields, particularly in the areas of mining, hydrocarbons, IT, agriculture, food processing, health, education, training and tourism. Both the sides pledged to find ways and means of enhancing and further expanding the bilateral trade and promoting mutually beneficial joint ventures.

The two leaders expressed their satisfaction at the intensification of diplomatic contacts between the two countries following the opening of the Embassy of India in Bamako in May 2009 and the decision taken by the Malian government to open its Embassy in New Delhi in the coming months.

At the end of the present working visit, the two sides inked the following agreements: (i) Protocol on the Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) at the level of Permanent Undersecretaries; (ii) Agreement on Political, Economic, Scientific, Technical and Cultural Cooperation between the two countries; and (iii) Agreements with the EXIM Bank for making the two Lines of Credit operational (i) US$36 million for the electricity inter-connection project between Mali and Cote d’Ivoire; and (ii) US$15 million in the field of agriculture.

New Delhi,
October 13, 2009