Algerian Radio
The Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Lounès Magramane, led the Algerian delegation participating in the 2nd session of the Arab-India Cooperation Forum ministerial meeting held in the Indian capital, New Delhi, on January 30 and 31, the ministry stated in a communiqué on Saturday.
Shortly before the opening of the forum proceedings, the Secretary General met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a reception ceremony organized by the Prime Minister in honor of the heads of the participating Arab delegations.
On this occasion, Mr. Magramane highlighted "Algeria's desire to strengthen cooperation with India, particularly in the pharmaceutical industry sector, and to promote the transfer of Indian expertise and technology," the source added.
The session provided an opportunity to review the state of Arab-Indian relations and examine issues of common interest. The goal was to elevate these relations to broader horizons within a strategic vision aimed at integrating economic, political, and cultural dimensions into a comprehensive and complementary cooperation framework, the statement specified.
Speaking at the forum's opening session, the Secretary General praised "the notable evolution the Arab-Indian partnership has experienced in recent years, both in terms of the intensity of political meetings and the diversity of fields of cooperation." He emphasized "the crucial importance of adopting a realistic and responsible approach in evaluating the achievements made since the launch of the Arab-India partnership in 2008."
He also underscored "the need to accord greater importance to the political dimension between the Arab and Indian sides, within the framework of a regular consultation mechanism on regional and international issues of common interest. Foremost among these is the Palestinian cause, which remains fundamental for Algeria, in addition to issues of regional security and the fight against terrorism, violent extremism, and hate speech."
Mr. Magramane also praised the unique and privileged nature of Algerian-Indian relations, citing their historical depth and multidimensional diversity. He noted that this relationship was notably illustrated by India's support for the Algerian people's struggle against colonialism, as well as by the convergence of their positions within the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) and the "Group of 77" in favor of independent national decision-making and the right of peoples to self-determination.
Furthermore, the Secretary General praised the current momentum of Algerian-Indian relations across various fields. He stated that this reflects the shared will of the President of the Republic, Mr. Abdelmadjid Tebboune, and his Indian counterpart, Mrs. Droupadi Murmu, particularly following her visit to Algeria in October 2024. That visit marked a new milestone in the process of consolidating and diversifying the bilateral strategic partnership linking the two friendly nations.
