New Delhi, March 8 : India and the European on held the inaugural Consultations on Africa, and explored opport ties for further collaboration and consultation in the region. The talks were held in virtual mode on Monday, following the discussions during the India-EU Leaders’ Summit held on May 8, 2021. The Consultations were co-chaired by Puneet R. Kundal, Joint Secretary (East & Southern Africa), Ministry of External Affairs from the Indian side, and Bernard Quintin, Deputy Managing Director for Africa, European External Action Service from the EU side. Within the framework of India-EU strategic partnership, the two sides held wide-ranging discussions on subjects of bilateral, regional and global interest in relation to Africa and Western Indian Ocean. The talks encompassed the SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) vision of India and the EU’s Coordinated Maritime Presence and the Indo-Pacific. Recalling their wide-ranging partnership with Africa, both sides discussed areas of mutual interest and explored opport ties for further collaboration and consultation. Both agreed to further strengthen their cooperation in the region and to continue the discussions periodically. RN