Friday, April 22 2005 10:58 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today (Apr 22, 2005) said that the New Asian African Strategic Partnership (NAASP) Declaration to be signed at the Asian-African Summit in Jakarta would be a "forward-looking framework" intended to build a bridge of understanding and support among countries of the two continents.

"We would sign a Declaration on a New Asian African Strategic Partnership renewing and reaffirming our commitment to the values enshrined in the original Bandung Conference," he said before leaving for Indonesia on a three-day trip to attend the Summit that began today.

He said leaders of 106 Asian and African nations were expected to participate in the Summit, which was intended to reinvigorate spirit of Bandung as enshrined in the Final Communique of the Asian-African Conference held there in 1955.

"We see the New Asian African Strategic Partnership as a forward-looking framework intended to build a bridge of understanding and support between Asia and Africa covering three broad areas of partnership - political solidarity, economic cooperation and socio-cultural relations," he said in his departure statement.

The Prime Minister said the Partnership Declaration would emphasise the need to promote practical cooperation between the two continents in areas such as trade, industry, investment, finance, tourism, information and communication technology, energy, health, transportation, agriculture, water resources and fisheries.

Besides the Summit, Singh said he would also be attending the Commemoration of the Golden Jubilee of the Asian-African Conference to be held in Bandung on April 24.

"This is an event of great significance as India was one of the original sponsors of the 1955 Bandung Conference and Pandit Nehru personally played a leading role in its organisation and success," he said adding on this occasion, "We will recall his magnificent contribution to the sense of solidarity that imbued Asia and Africa following Bandung."

A meeting between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Nepal King Gyanendra on the sidelines of the Asian-African Summit at Jakarta is not ruled out with New Delhi indicating it could be possible.

"There is a possibility. If there is a request from that side, we don't see why it should not take place," Prime Ministers Office (PMO) sources said when asked about a meeting between the two leaders.

If a meeting takes place between the Prime Minister and Gyanendra at Jakarta, it would be the first such interaction after the Nepalese King usurped power in a royal coup and imposed emergency in February.

During his stay in Jakarta, Singh said he is expected to meet leaders from China, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Vietnam, Singapore and Indonesia as part of efforts to renew bilateral contacts.

He was seen off at his residence by Congress president Sonia Gandhi, several Cabinet Ministers, service chiefs and senior officials.