President A P J Abdul Kalam on Wednesday held talks with United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan in Delhi, official sources said.
During the 35-minute meeting, Kalam suggested the launch of an India-UN partnership for Afro-Asian development to provide urban amenities in rural areas.
The two leaders shared the view that problems confronting Asian and African countries were similar and both sides could benefit from their experiences in tackling them.
Annan is in India on a three-day visit to hold talks with Indian leaders on UN reforms and a host of issues concerning security and development.
The President made a power-point presentation of India's proposal for e-connectivity of 53 Pan-African countries for which $ 500 million are being earmarked. The proposal envisages connecting hospitals, universities and other educational institutions and is expected to be completed by 2007.
Kalam had mooted the project while addressing the Pan-African Parliament during his visit to South Africa last year.
The President suggested that the Providing Urban Amenities in Rural Areas programme should be incorporated in the UN millennium programme.
The two leaders also talked about the UN's functioning.
They also discussed AIDS control programmes being undertaken on a large scale. Kalam told Annan Indian scientists may develop an AIDS vaccine in three years.
Earlier reports:
Kofi Annan arrives on three-day visit
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