Security tightened in Jaipur ahead of FIPIC summit today

JAIPUR: Security across Jaipur has been tightened ahead of the 2nd Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation ( FIPIC) Summit today which will witness participation by heads of state and government officials from 14 resource-rich nations.

The state capital is decked up and adequate security arrangements have been taken for the high profile event which will begin later in the day.

"All the arrangements have been made accordingly for the summit," Jaipur Police Commissioner Janga Srinivas Rao said today.

DCP Traffic Haidar Ali informed that proper arrangements for regulating traffic during the event have also been made.

The delegates are also scheduled to visit Amber fort and City palace before the summit.

India is expected to push for deeper engagement with 14 resource-rich Pacific Island nations today at the summit of the countries of strategically important South Pacific region where China has strong presence.

The summit is aimed at stepping up cooperation with the island nations, some which have large oil and gas reserves.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the summit, in which the island nations located in the strategically important South Pacific region where China has strong presence.

Modi has expressed hope that the summit will strengthen India's bonds with the 14 nations.

"I welcome all the leaders and delegates who are coming to India for the Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation," he tweeted.

The island nations participating in the event are -- Cook Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Nauru, Kiribati, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Samoa, Niue, Palau, Micronesia, Marshall Islands, Fiji and Papua New Guinea.

Meanwhile, the state heads and delegates from 14 pacific island countries arrived here to participate in the summit.

Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje and Minister of State for External Affairs V K Singh received the delegates who arrived in two flights at the Sanganer airport here, a spokesperson of the state government informed.

The delegates have left for Amber fort from the airport, he added.