'Dreams of a Third of Humanity Under One Roof,' Says PM Narendra Modi at India-Africa Summit

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the leaders of 54 African nations today at the Indo-African summit in the national capital.

Here are the highlights:

• Fabric of this world is richer because of the 54 sovereign flags of Africa
• We are deeply, deeply honoured by your (African leaders) presence today
• A warm embrace of welcome and friendship from India
• It is not just a meeting of India & Africa. Today, the dreams of one-third of humanity have come together under one roof
• Today it is not just a meeting of India and Africa - today the dreams of one-third of humanity have come together under one roof
• Today the heartbeat of 1.25 billion Indians and 1.25 billion Africans are in rhythm
• We are the world's oldest civilisation
• We are each a vibrant mosaic of languages, religion and culture
• Once united by geography, we are now linked by the Indian Ocean
• The currents of the mighty ocean have nurtured the kinship for centuries
• Two-third of India & Africa is under the age of 35. And, if the future belongs to the youth, then this century is ours to shape & build
• Either way, we have enriched each other and strengthened our ties
• We have lived in the long shadow of coloniasm and we have fought for our liberty and dignity
• We have struggled for opportunity and also for justice
• We have formed a partnership of prosperity among ourselves. We have stood together under blue helmets to keep peace
• And have fought together against hunger and disease
• There is something precious that unites us - our youth
• Two-third of India and Africa, each under the age of 35 years, if the future belongs to youth then this century is ours
• We have formed a partnership of prosperity among ourselves, We have stood together under blue helmets to keep peace and have fought together against hunger and disease
• Africa like the rest of developing world has its challenges. It has its own concerns of security and stability, especially from terrorism and extremism
• But I have confidence in African leadership and people to rise to those challenges
• Africa and India are two bright spots of hope and opportunity in the global economy
• India honoured to be a development partner of Africa.
• India and Africa  must speak in one voice  for reforms of the United Nations, including its Security Council. 
• Partnership beyond strategic concerns and economic benefits, it is formed on emotional bonds
• India now major source of business investments in Africa
• 34 African countries enjoy duty-free access to Indian markets
• Nearly 25,000 young Africans have been trained and educated in India, they are the 25,000 new links between us
• There are times when we have not done as well as you have wanted us to.
• Occasions when we have not been as attentive as we should be, there are commitments we have not fulfilled as quickly as we should have
• But you have embraced India with warmth and without judgement
• We will raise the level of our support for your vision of a prosperous integrated and united Africa
• We will help connect Africa from Cairo to Capetown, From Marrakesh to Mombasa
• Help develop infrastructure, power, irrigation, set up IT parks
• Development of human capital in every walk of life will be at heart of our partnership
• Will open our doors more, we will continue to build institutions in Africa
• Technology will be a strong foundation of our partnership
• We will also collaborate  to develop Indian and African treasures of traditional knowledge and medicines
• We will work to reduce digital divide within Africa and between Africa and rest of the world
• We will also deepen India-Africa partnership on clean energy,  sustainable habitats, public transport & climate resilient agriculture
• It will help develop Africa's agricultural infrastructure. Agriculture in Africa can support global food security
• Will expand and extend pan-Africa e-network, conceived by Former President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, which links African countries to India
• Will work to reduce digital divide within Africa and with rest of world
• For me, blue economy is a part of a larger blue revolution to reclaim blue skies as we venture to clean development
• When the sun sets, tens of millions of homes in India and Africa go dark. We want to light up lives
• But in a way that the snow on Kilimanjaro won't disappear. Glacier that feeds Ganges does not retreat
• We will also deepen India-Africa partnership on clean energy,  sustainable habitats, public transport & climate resilient agriculture
• We wish to deepen our cooperation in maritime security and hydrography, and countering terrorism and extremism
• No one can be more conscious of climate change than Indians, Africans
• We wish to deepen our cooperation in maritime security and hydrography, and countering terrorism and extremism
• No one can be more conscious of climate change than Indians, Africans
• We are the inheritors of Nature's precious gifts,  and, our lives remain most connected to Mother Earth.
• I invite you to join alliance of solar-rich countries that I have proposed to launch in Paris
• Our goal is to make solar energy an integral part of our lives and reaching to most unconnected villages
• We wish to deepen our cooperation in maritime security and hydrography, and countering terrorism and extremism
• No one can be more conscious of climate change than Indians, Africans
• We are the inheritors of Nature's precious gifts,  and, our lives remain most connected to Mother Earth.
• I invite you to join alliance of solar-rich countries that I have proposed to launch in Paris
• Our goal is to make solar energy an integral part of our lives and reaching to most unconnected villages
• We pledge to walk together, with our steps in rhythm and our voices in harmony