African-Nordic countries agree to join forces

At least 29 African countries and Nordic countries of Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Finland and Iceland have agreed to join forces in tackling impacts of climate change, a Tanzanian senior official said on Friday night.

Palamagamba Kabudi, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, said the African-Nordic countries have agreed to look for financial resources for implementing grand projects dealing with climate change challenges.

"Denmark and Norway have agreed to set aside funds for the implementation of the projects," Kabudi told a news conference during a two-day 18th African-Nordic Foreign Ministers' meeting in the commercial capital Dar es Salaam.

"Climate change is real and it needs no further discussion. We have been witness to calamities caused by climate change such as hurricanes, drought and floods," said Tanzania's top diplomat.

He said the meeting themed--Partnering for Sustainable Development--also agreed to push for the climate change agenda in various international forums.

Kabudi said the meeting also discussed about peace and security, and trade and investment, and provision of social services.

Opening the meeting earlier on Friday, Tanzanian President John Magufuli urged African countries to wean itself off donor dependency, saying the continent has abundant potential to advance ahead.

"Africa should rethink and reposition itself by taking stock of where we went wrong," said Magufuli.

He said the African continent was endowed with abundant natural resources and arable land that could turn the continent into a powerful economic house.

"Africa is rich in marine resources along its coast, livestock, natural gas, minerals and tourist attractions," said the head of state, adding: "Africa must produce, process and export to advance its economies."

He told the meeting, also attended by former Presidents Ali Hassan Mwinyi and Jakaya Kikwete, that African leaders should understand that the destiny of Africa was in the hands of Africans.

He said the cooperation between Nordic countries and Africa should shift from donor-recipient to partnership in trade and investments.

Magufuli thanked the Nordic countries for their invaluable contribution to Africa during the liberation struggle and in areas of health, education, science and issues related to peace and security.