Libreville [Gabon], May 31 (ANI): Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu on Tuesday called upon the President of Gabon, Ali Bongo Ondimba, in Libreville during his three-day visit to the country. During the meeting, the Vice President said that India attaches great importance to its relations with Gabon and reiterated the commitment of the Government of India to be Gabon’s reliable partner in its development journey.
Earlier in the day, Vice President held a meeting with the President of the Senate of Gabon, Lucie Milebou Aubusson and Speaker of Gabonese National Assembly H E Faustin Boukoubi. Naidu gifted them replicas of the original Indian Constitution and emphasized the importance of shared values of democracy and pluralism in India-Gabon ties.
Vice President Venkaiah Naidu on Monday reached Gabon on the first leg of his three-nation visit. He will also visit Senegal and Qatar. He was received by Gabon Prime Minister Rose Christiane Ossouka Raponda and Foreign Minister Michael Moussa Adamo in the capital city Libreville.
Naidu is on a visit to Gabon, Senegal, and Qatar, the first visit from India at the level of Vice President to the three countries. He is accompanied by a high-level delegation including Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Dr Bharati Pravin Pawar and three Members of Parliament, Sushil Kumar Modi, Vijay Pal Singh Tomar, and P Raveendranath.
Gabon is an important partner for India. Both India and Gabon are currently serving as non-permanent members of the UNSC. Bilateral trade reached USD 1.12 billion in 2021-22. A number of Gabonese nationals pursue scholarship/training programs offered by India under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) and ICCR schemes. (ANI)