Wednesday, April 27 2005 17:15 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: President A P J Abdul Kalam today (Apr 27, 2005) suggested to UN Secretary General Kofi Annan launching of an India-UN partnership for Afro-Asian development for providing urban amenities in rural areas.

During their 35-minute meeting, the two leaders shared the view that problems confronting Asian and African countries were similar in nature and both sides could share their experiences in tackling them.

The President made power point presentation of India's proposal of e-connectivity of 53 Pan-African countries for which 500 million dollars are being earmarked. This project connecting hospitals, universities and other educational institutions is expected to be completed by 2007.

Kalam had made the offer while addressing the Pan-African Parliament during his visit to South Africa last year (2004).

Kalam suggested that the programme of PURA (Providing Urban Amenities in Rural Areas) should be incorporated in the UN Millennium programme.

The two leaders also talked generally about UN functioning.

They discussed AIDS control programmes being undertaken on a large scale. Kalam said that Indian scientists were working on an AIDS preventive vaccine and may develop it in three years.