Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting, Colonel Rajyavardhan Rathore, has said India Africa Forum Summit in New Delhi would be historic as India had taken the lead to invite leaders of all African nations with whom it has long cherished ties. <br/><br/>He said this while extending invitation for attending the summit to President of Zimbabwe at Harare last evening.<br/> <br/>Col. Rathore met President Robert Mugabe as the Special Envoy of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to personally extend the invitation.<br/> <br/>The Minister emphasised the importance of Indo-Africa engagement saying that India's friendship with African nations goes back a long way. <br/><br/>He said India and Africa emerged from a similar colonial past and shared similar concerns of sustainable development and inclusive economic growth. <br/><br/>Elaborating further, Col Rathore said both India and Africa shared common views and concerns related to Global Governance, and Climate Change. <br/><br/>While accepting the invitation, President Mugabe stated that he hoped the Prime Minister Modi would visit Zimbabwe in the near future. <br/><br/>Earlier the Minister also met the Zimbabwean Foreign Affairs Minister and invited him on behalf of the External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj. <br/><br/>The Third India Africa Forum Summit level meeting will be held on 29th October this year and will be preceded by a Foreign Minister's meeting on 27th October and Senior Officers meeting on 26th October. <br/><br/>