Finland Times

Presided over by Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja, the meeting will discuss topical African and Nordic issues.

The meeting will have three main themes: the Nordic welfare state, inclusive economic growth and Africa's conflicts.

In addition to the scheduled programme, the ministers at a dinner party had also discussed the current international affairs and bilateral issues.

Minister for International Development Heidi Hautala is scheduled to participate in the meeting on Sunday.

Alongside the Nordic countries, the participants come from Benin, Botswana, Ghana, Lesotho, Mali, Mozambique, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania and Zambia. The participating African countries have especially stressed their efforts to promote democracy, human rights and good governance.

This meeting is twelfth in a series that began in 2001 at the initiative of the late Swedish Foreign Minister Anna Lindh. The previous meeting in Finland took place in Hanasaari in 2005. Last year, the meeting was hosted by the West African country Benin.