Comoros President thanks PM Modi for his efforts in making African Union permanent member of G20

New Delhi [India], September 10 (ANI): President of Comoros and chairperson of the African Union (AU), Azali Assoumani on Sunday thanked PM Modi for his initiative and efforts in making the African Union a permanent member of the G20.
The two leaders on Sunday held a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in New Delhi.
The President of the Union of Comoros shared his particular pleasure that this had occurred during India’s G20 Presidency, considering India's role and links with Africa. He felt this would also give a boost to India-Comoros relations. He further congratulated the Prime Minister for the success of India’s G20 Presidency, according to a release issued by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
During the meeting, PM Modi congratulated the African Union and Comoros on joining the G20 and highlighted India's efforts to articulate the Voice of Global South and recalled the Voice of Global South Summit convened by India in January 2023.
Both leaders also had an opportunity to discuss their bilateral partnership. They expressed satisfaction at the numerous initiatives underway, and discussed opportunities for cooperation in areas like maritime security, capacity building and development partnership, as per the release.
Assoumani, on Sunday, said India is a superpower in terms of "inhabitance" and "ahead of China now".
Assoumani said as the fifth superpower in the world, there was enough room for India in Africa.
"India is the 5th superpower in the world so there is enough room for India in Africa. We also know that India is so powerful that it went to space. So we just need to coordinate...India is a superpower in terms of inhabitance, India is ahead of China now," the AU chairperson said. 
He also praised India for advancements in space research.
Opening up on the moment when Prime Minister Narendra Modi hugged him after formally inducting the African Union into the G20 family, the AU Chairperson said it was an emotional one for him. 
He added that he thought there would be a debate before a decision is arrived at but the African Union was announced as part of the G20 family at the very outset of the two-day summit on Sunday.
"I was about to cry. It was a great emotion for me. Because actually, we thought that there was going to be a debate and then a decision would be taken but at the very beginning of the Summit it was announced that we were a member," he said. 
In his opening remarks at the 18th G20 Leaders’ Summit on Saturday, PM Modi invited the African Union, represented by Assoumani, to take a seat at the table of G20 leaders as a permanent member.
The African Union chairperson expressed his gratitude to the G20 member countries for the historic inclusion of the bloc in the G20 family.
Assoumani took to his official handle on 'X' to post, "The G20 has just ratified, through the voice of the Prime Minister of India, @narendramodi, the admission of the @_AfricanUnion into its fold. On behalf of the African continent, I sincerely thank all the member countries of @g20org for this historic admission."
Earlier on Sunday, PM Modi called the inclusion of the African Union in the G20 a "significant stride" towards a more inclusive global dialogue. He stated that India was looking forward to collaborative efforts that benefit the entire world.
African Union is a union consisting of 55 member states in Africa. The move to include the African Union in the G20 grouping was proposed by PM Modi earlier this June. (ANI)