Sudan to host African-Caribbean-Pacific Summit next month
Nov 20, 2006 (KHARTOUM) — Sudan is to hold an African- Caribbean-Pacific summit conference in Khartoum on Dec. 7 and 8, Sudanese Minister of Presidency of the Republic Bakri Hassan Salih announced on Monday.
Salih told reporters that arrangements to hold the summit had been finalized, adding that the conference coincided with the 50th anniversary of Sudan’s independence.
Referring to the summits of the African Union and the Arab league in Khartoum earlier this year, the Sudanese minister said that “the convocation of such important conferences in Sudan proves that Sudan is maintaining a good position and playing a remarkable role in the African, Arab and international arenas.”
Salih said that the coming African-Caribbean-Pacific summit would discuss issues of sustainable development, combating poverty, ways to boost the economic cooperation and international openness and the outcome of former summits of the African-Caribbean-Pacific group, which was established in 1963.
He noted that Sudan has benefited in the fields of economic development and humanitarian aid since it joined the African- Caribbean-Pacific group in 1975.
According to Salih, a total of 79 members of the group have been invited to take part in the summit, among them 12 to 15 heads of state were expected to attend the meeting
The minister said that an economic forum would also be held on the eve of the summit, adding that a large number of economic ministers and experts would be present at the forum.
(Xinhua)