India has asked African countries to step up cooperation through intelligence exchange, training and other measures to counter terrorism. New Delhi hoped that the international community will cooperate with urgency to adopt the Comprehensive Convention against international terrorism.<br/><br/>Addressing Foreign Minister's meeting ahead of the India-Africa Forum Summit, IAFS, in New Delhi this morning, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said coordination is a must in view of fast growing linkages of terrorist groups across the globe.<br/><br/>The Minister categorically said that India and African countries can no longer be excluded from their rightful place of the permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council. She said, any governance structure which excludes the entire African continent and India representing one sixth of humanity can not be legitimate.<br/><br/>On climate change, she said India is looking forward to finalising an ambitious and comprehensive climate change agreement based on the principles of equity and common but differentiated responsibility during Climate Change Summit in Paris. Mrs Swaraj said the challenge of global warming can only be addressed adequately through technological solutions and financial resources to manage the transition.<br/><br/>Noting that affordable and quality medicines and treatment is an important area of cooperation between India and African countries, she said, India has been an active participant of the international efforts to meet the challenges posed by pandemics, including Ebola and HIV/AIDS in Africa.<br/><br/>Saying India is happy to host African students,the Minister said, India is committed to a people-centric approach which focuses on capacity building, human resources development and technical and financial support.<br/><br/>Invoking an African proverb on the need to work collectively to ensure gender empowerment, she said, both India and Africa greatly value the commitment to work together to promote gender equality and women empowerment.<br/><br/>External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj is now holding bilateral meetings with her counterparts of Zimbabwe, South Africa, South Sudan and Malawi. She is scheduled to meet her Cameroon, Ghana, Congo, Kenya and Cape Verde counterparts later in the day.