The first India-Africa summit has concluded with a pledge to work as partners to address economic and development challenges. They also vowed to ensure food security for their developing regions, where poverty is widespread.

India is preparing to host a two-day summit of leaders of key African countries in a bid to deepen engagement with the continent. The meeting that starts Tuesday is an effort by India to raise its political profile in the resource-rich region.

It used to be called "The Club of Dictators." The African Union (AU), and before it the Organization of African Unity, lists among its alumni such infamous characters as Idi Amin, Charles Taylor, Sane Abacha, Mengistu Haile Mariam and Joseph Mobutu.

European leaders meet in London later Tuesday to consider ways of dealing with the current international economic slowdown, including ways to prevent future turmoil.