Commonwealth Secretary General Don McKinnon visited India on an official visit from arch 21 to 23. He called on President Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam on March 22. They discussed Commonwealth issues, including the Commonwealth Connects International e- Partnership Summit meeting in the Indian capital on March 23 that was opened by President Abdul Kalam.

The President noted the critical need for connectivity � through electronic, economic, knowledge and physical connectivity in our daily lives � to enhance our potential. He explained about the village knowledge centres that have been set up by the government nationwide to provide computer access to those living in rural areas. The secretary general called on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on March 23. They discussed Commonwealth and regional issues, preparations for the forthcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in ampala, Uganda, in November, work of the Commission on Respect and Understanding chaired by Indian Nobel Laureate Professor Amartya Sen, and the Committee on Commonwealth Membership led by former Jamaican Prime Minister P.J. Patterson. He thanked India for its contributions to the Commonwealth saying that India�s support made a tremendous difference to the organisation.

The Commonwealth Secretary General also met Union Finance Minister Palaniappan hidambaram, Minister of Commerce and Industry Kamal Nath and the Minister of State for External Affairs E Ahamed. Among his other engagements in Delhi, he delivered a speech at the Indian Council of World Affairs on March 22 on the theme �21st century challenges�; he spoke at the opening of the Commonwealth Connects e-Partnership Summit; and attended a function organized by Commonwealth Youth Programme Asia Centre to launch a project titled �Bonding Beyond Boundaries- Through Sports�.