New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal hosted a reception for the ambassadors and high commissioners of African countries in the capital. The reception was attended by the top diplomats from 30 nations and top bureaucrats from the Delhi government.
Welcoming the ambassadors and high commissioners, the Chief Minister said Delhi is home to citizens from across the world and his government is committed to showcase the national capital as a unique city where law abiding people from different parts of the country and the world live together peacefully.
Kejriwal referred to the multi-dimensional nature of the relations between India and countries of the African continent. “India and Africa share the mutual desire to expand economic cooperation and trade and investment linkages between them.”
The Chief Minister encouraged the diplomats from African countries to come out with their feelings and frank suggestions on some incidents in recent days, which require his immediate attention.
Kejriwal said he was very keen to meet with the diplomats and discuss all issues they wanted to raise. He also expressed his gratitude to them for attending the reception in such a large number. Speaking on the occasion, the ambassador of Zimbabwe, Mr Jonathan Wutawunashe, who is also Dean of the African Diplomatic Core, described Delhi as his own city.
He thanked the chief minister for having organised the reception and requested him to take robust measures for ensuring that recent incidents are not repeated in the capital.
Ambassador Wutawunashe also wanted the procedures related to Value Added Tax (VAT) be simplified in the capital, to which the chief minister replied that the process has already been started.
The ambassador of Nigeria, Mr Ndubuisi Vitus Amaku, who is the deputy dean of the African Diplomatic Core, requested that the chief minister to give a public assurance that there will be no discrimination against citizens from African countries. Kejriwal assured the diplomats that his government will do everything possible to end all kinds of discrimination.
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