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Wednesday, October 27, 2010

MoUs/Agreements signed between India and Malaysia



---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Press Information Bureau Ministry of I&B <pib.kolkata@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, Oct 27, 2010 at 4:00 PM
Subject: Releases.........pt4


Press Information Bureau

Government of India

* * * * * *

Prime Minister's Office

MoUs/Agreements signed between India and Malaysia

New Delhi: October 27, 2010.

 

List of MoUs/Agreements signed on 27 October 2010 between India and Malaysia during the visit of Hon'ble Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh are as follows:-

 

S.No

Name of the MoU/Agreement

Signatory from Indian side

Signatory from Malaysian side

 

Agreement towards implementing Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) between India and Malaysia on 1st July 2011

 

Hon'ble Shri Anand Sharma,

Minister of Commerce                   and Industry

Hon'ble Mr. Mustapa Mohamed,

Minister of International       Trade and Industry

 

MOU on Cooperation in the Field of Traditional Systems of Medicine

Hon'ble Shri Anand Sharma

Minister of Commerce & Industry

Hon'ble Mr. Liow Tiong Lai

Minister of Health

 

 

MOU for cooperation in the field of Tourism

Ms. Latha Reddy

Secretary

Ministry of External Affairs

Dr. Ong Hong Peng

Secretary General

Ministry of Tourism

 

 

MOU for Cooperation in the field of IT & Services

 

Ms. Latha Reddy

Secretary

Ministry of External Affairs

Ms.Madinah Mohamad

Secretary General

Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation

 

Agreement between CSIR of India and UNIK of Malaysia on Research and Development Collaboration

Mr. Vijay Gokhale

High Commissioner of India

to Malaysia

Dr. Kamal Jit Singh

Chief Executive Officer

Special Innovation Unit

of the Prime Minister's Office

 

Cultural Exchange Programme for 2010-13

Mr. Vijay Gokhale

High Commissioner of India

to Malaysia

 

Mr. Wira Kamaruddin Siaraf

Secretary General

Ministry of Information, Communication and Culture

SYNOPSIS OF SIX MOUS/AGREEMENTS TO BE SIGNED ON 27 OCTOBER 2010

 

Agreement towards implementing Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) between India and Malaysia on 1st July 2011

Background

 

India-Malaysia CECA

A Joint Study Group was constituted in March 2005 by India and Malaysia comprising government officials and economists to examine the feasibility of a FTA between the two countries. The Study Group submitted its Report in January 2007, recommending a Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) between India and Malaysia, and the Report was adopted by both the governments by launching CECA negotiations in February 2008. The negotiations have been concluded in September 2010 with both sides agreeing on the texts of the CECA which include Trade in Goods, Trade in Services, Investment and other areas of economic cooperation.Both sides agreed that the CECA would be signed as a single undertaking.

 

Taking into account the India-ASEAN Trade in Goods (TiG) Agreement that was implemented with effect from 1st January 2010 between India and Malaysia, both sides have offered 'ASEAN plus' market access in goods. In Trade in Services, both sides agreed on providing access of each others' services market across all modes and various sectors. India and Malaysia would liberalise their respective investment regimes to facilitate greater FDI into each other's territory. Both sides would also finalise 2-3 other areas of economic cooperation from among infrastructure development, creative industries, tourism, SMEs, business facilitation, science and technology, and human resource development.

 

Agreement on the implementation of CECA (to be signed during the PM's Visit)

 

The 'Agreement towards implementing Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) between the Republic of India and Malaysia on 1st July 2011', signed by the Trade Ministers of both countries on 27th October 2010 in the presence of the Prime Ministers of India and Malaysia, indicates the broad contours and the stages of implementation of CECA.

 

Both sides to prepare all the schedules and take up legal scrubbing of texts in November. The CECA to be signed by 31st January 2011 and to be implemented on 1st July 2011.

 

MOU on Cooperation in the Field of Traditional Systems of Medicine

The MOU on Cooperation in the Field of Traditional Systems of Medicine provides a framework for cooperation in traditional systems of medicine between the two countries. The scope of the MoU includes identifying further areas of co-operation for promotion of traditional medicine including the regulation of teaching, practice, drugs and drugless therapies; accommodating interested practitioners, paramedics, students and institutions in educational training programmes on traditional systems of medicine. The institutions in both the countries can work towards mutual recognition of Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha Pharmacopoea of India and the Malaysian Herbal Pharmacopoea.  The MOU also envisages exchange of experts for training of practitioners, paramedics, scientists, teachers and students in traditional systems of medicine.  Both governments would also encourage relevant institutions to exchange medicinal materials and documents necessary for administration and reference for greater understanding and usage.

 

India would be the second country with which Malaysia would be signing an MOU in the Traditional Systems of Medicine.  Due to the presence of large diaspora of Indian and Chinese origin, Malaysia has a wide canvas of traditional systems of medicine including that of Malay herbal medicine. The MOU is expected to guide already existing rudimentary cooperation in a more focused manner and also streamline the existing practices in traditional systems of medicine to higher levels of acceptance by people in the two countries.

 

MOU for cooperation in the filed of Tourism

The tourist flows between India and Malaysia have been increasing in the recent years in a significant manner.  India is now the sixth largest source country for inbound tourism to Malaysia with about 600,000 Indian tourists visiting Malaysia in 2009, an increase of 9% over figures of 2008. Malaysia is the tenth largest source country for foreign tourists visiting India with 115,794 Malaysians visiting India in 2008. The trend is expected to continue in view of the improved connectivity between the two countries with the introduction of budget airlines from Malaysia such as AirAsia.

 

The MOU would further enhance the existing level of cooperation in the field of tourism on the basis of equality and mutual benefit.  The areas of cooperation envisaged under the MOU include research and development, training, greater exchange of promotional and publicity materials, investments and organizing meetings, conventions and travel mart/trade fairs etc. between the two countries.  The MOU would remain in force from the date of signing for a period of 5 years and thereafter it would be automatically extended for a further period of 5 years.

 

MOU for Cooperation in the filed of IT & Services

The first decade of the 21st century witnessed marked increase in collaboration in the field of Information Technology and Services between India and Malaysia.  There are at present 60 Indian IT companies, including few of the top-ten Indian IT companies,  have established offices in Malaysia with some of them operating their global business centres.  Keeping in view the importance of IT and Services for both the countries, an MOU was signed in 2002 which expired in 2007.  The new MOU is signed to reflect the contemporary changes taking place in the field of IT and Services.

 

The areas of cooperation envisaged in the MOU include electronic-commerce, multimedia development, electronic-governance, information security, cyber crime, human resource development, research, design and development and exploring third country markets and any other areas of cooperation of mutual interest to both the countries.  The MOU shall enter into force from the date of signing and would remain in force for a period of five years. 

 

Separately, the Prime Ministers of India and Malaysia are also expected to announce setting up of a Joint ICT Talent Development Consultative Committee (JICTDCC) involving stakeholders from both the governments, relevant agencies, industry players and training institutions to make specific recommendations to both the governments for IT skills training, talent development and greater engagement of Indian IT Companies in Malaysia.

 

Agreement between CSIR of India and UNIK of Malaysia on Research and Development Collaboration

         

The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and Special Innovation Unit (UNIK) of Prime Minister's Department of Malaysia would be signing an Agreement on Research and Development Collaboration to increase cooperation in research, development innovation and commercialization of technology.

 

The Agreement envisages establishment of a Joint Innovation Accelerator Centre in Malaysia to carry out research on areas of mutual interest such as green technology, water treatment, medicinal and aromatic plants and also includes other innovative technologies. It also encourages transfer of knowledge; exchange of experts, scientists and researchers; production of joint reports of publications; and study visits relating to the projects and programme to be undertaken by the Joint Innovation Accelerator Centre. Both CSIR and UNIK will also explore and develop the use of herbs, plants, flowers and fruits for medicinal in Malaysia and aromatic purposes by way of extraction techniques, processes and methodologies;

 

UNIK has been set up in 2010 in the Prime Minister's Department to enable it emerge as an important focal point for innovation in the country. CSIR, a premier scientific and industrial research organization in India, would share its knowledge and expertise for mutual benefit.

 

Cultural Exchange Programme for 2010-13

 

India and Malaysia would be signing a Cultural Exchange Programme (CEP) for the period 2010-13 during the Prime Minister's visit, spelling out a number of activities to further strengthen the existing cultural cooperation between the two countries.  This CEP stems from the Cultural Agreement signed between India and Malaysia in 1978.

 

CEP envisages exchange of cultural delegations at Ministerial as well as official level to further enhance development of culture and art programmes between the two countries.  In addition, it provides for exchange of performing arts troupes, visual arts, organization of art exhibitions in each others' countries, participation in international cultural and artistic activities held in each others' countries.  It also encourages cooperation by way of exchange of visits between archaeological institutions, museums and archives establishments of the two countries.  It also has a component of training of personnel in archives and also participation of scholars and experts in international academic conferences held in other countries. The CEP would provide a more focused attention in a number of areas mentioned above.

 

akt/ad/lv/vk/dk/kol/15:51 hrs.

 

 

Press Information Bureau

Government of India

* * * * * *

Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment

Shilpotsav 2010 to Conclude at Delhi Haat Tomorrow

New Delhi: October 27, 2010.

 

Shilpotsav 2010, the 13-day long annual fair of Artisans from across the country, belonging to the weaker sections of the society, which began on 16th of this month at Dilli Haat in New Delhi, is coming to an end tomorrow evening with a cultural evening.

 

Closing Ceremony of "SHILPOTSAV 2010 will take place in the presence of the Union Minister of Social Justice & Empowerment, Shri Mukul Wasnik and Shri D. Napoleon, Minister of State.

 

The Cultural Programme will be presented by the Disabled Persons from various organizations. This includes a Wheel Chair Dance by artists of Amar Jyoti Charitable Trust, Awara Bhavarein – a performance by artists from Tamanna Special School and song 'Dasaavtaar' by artists from National School of Blind.

 

On this occasion, Awards will be given away to the best five Stalls set up at Shilpotsav by beneficiaries of the apex organizations of the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment.

 

Tricycles, wheel chairs and crutches to the persons with disabilities will also be distributed as assessed by the Institute for Physically Handicapped (IPH). IPH ran an ADIP Camp (Assistance to Disbaled Persons for Purchase of Aids & Equipment) during the Shilpotsav 2010.

 

The participating artists and workers are the beneficiaries of various apex organizations of the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment who displayed and sold their products at 162 Stalls hired for this purpose at Dilli Haat.

 

This is the fourth consecutive year of Shilpotsav. The Shilpotsav was started during the year 2007-08 by way of collaborating with all the Apex Corporations and National Institutes under the Ministry to provide marketing platform to artisans assisted by the Apex Corporations and the National Trust for Welfare of Persons with Autism, Cerebral Palsy etc. Beneficiaries sponsored by State Channelising Agencies (SCAs) of Apex Corporations and NGO Assisted by National Trust from 23 States/UTs participated in Shilpotsav-2010.

 

vba/rs/dk/kol/15:51 hrs.

 

Press Information Bureau

Government of India

* * * * * *

Ministry of Home Affairs

Consultative Committee of Home Ministry Meets

Significant Progress has been made to Strengthen Coastal Security, Says Chidambaram

New Delhi: October 27, 2010.

 

The Union Home Minister, Shri P. Chidambaram has said that significant progress has been made since the 26/11 terrorist attacks in Mumbai to strengthen coastal security of the country. The identified gaps which remain to be filled up will be addressed through Phase-II of the Coastal Security Scheme which is to be launched next year. He was addressing the Consultative Committee of the Ministry of Home Affairs here today. The topic of the meeting was 'Coastal Security'. The Union Home Minister said that coastal police stations and boats are well-equipped and around 2000 police personnel have been imparted specialized training so far. To ensure better coordination among different agencies, Coastal Command and Joint Operation Centres have been set up. Phase-I of the Coastal Security Scheme which has been in operation since 2005-06 will come to an end in March next year. Phase-II which will be launched thereafter will considerably strengthen infrastructure in terms of boats, police stations, jetties, vehicles, equipment, trained personnel, etc. Responding to a query by the members, Shri Chidambaram said that Kalpakkam and other key installations on the country's coast are well-protected and there need not be any apprehension in this regard, Responding to another query, he said that there was no proposal to entrust coastal security to the Border Security Force or raise another Central force for the purpose.

 

Taking part in the deliberations, members appreciated the steps taken by the Ministry of Home Affairs for strengthening coastal security. They also stressed the need to augment availability of funds for coastal security. Some members pointed out the need not to transfer police personnel specially trained in coastal security to other areas of policing. Members also stressed the importance of enlisting cooperation of fishermen and other local groups to ensure coastal security.

 

The Coastal Security Scheme aims at providing assistance to nine coastal States of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Orissa and West Bengal and four coastal Union Territories of Daman & Diu, Lakshadweep, Puducherry and Andaman & Nicobar Islands to strengthen their infrastructure for marine policing. The Scheme provides for setting up 73 coastal police stations, 97 check posts, 58 outposts and 30 operational barracks. So far, 71 coastal police stations have been operationlised and construction of 75 check posts, 54 outposts and 22 barracks completed. 158 boats were delivered to coastal States/UTs up to the end of last month.

 

Those who attended today's meeting included Dr. K. Keshava Rao, S/Shri Rishang Keishing, H.K. Dua, Mohd. Ali Khan, Vinay Katiyar and Prof. Ram Gopal Yadav from the Rajya Sabha and Dr. Ratan Singh Ajnala, Dr. Thokchom Meinya, S/Shri Kalyan Banerjee, Khagen Das and Ismail Hussain from the Lok Sabha.

 

The Minister of State for Home, Shri Ajay Maken was also present at the meeting.

 

ok/kka/dk/kol/15:51 hrs.

 

Press Information Bureau

Government of India

* * * * * *

Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers

"Advanced Plastic Processing Technology Centre" to be Set up at Balasore in Orissa

New Delhi: October 27, 2010.

 

Plastics have become the key drivers of innovation and application development. Plastics processing or product manufacturing industries is evincing increased competition worldwide due to globalization of the plastics trade. In the prevailing scenario of liberalization, an obvious preference goes to global supplier, who can deliver the qualitative products at any location within stipulated time frame across the globe. Due to globalization of trade and cost pressure, plastics industry in Indian context is looking forward to exploit the opportunities available in the export as well as domestic market. This would facilitate establishment of large-scale production facilities and processing plants to cater to the requirements of user industry.

 

Around 70% of the plastics industries of Orissa are situated in and around Balasore. It is also envisioned that during the end of XI Five Year Plan, around 100 more plastics processing industries are expected to be established. Establishment of Plastic Park and the upcoming Plastics Processing Industries in and around Balasore will boost the requirement of well trained technical manpower for the Plastics Industry.

 

The raw materials availability for the plastic industries in Balasore can further be increased to ensure sustainable development as one petrochemical complex is coming up at Paradeep (to be developed by IOC).

 

Balasore is also an industrially developed district, two sea ports are coming up near Dhamra and Chudamani. With the constant efforts of the local Member of Parliament and Minister of State for Chemicals & Fertilizers, Shri Srikant Kumar Jena, it has been decided to set up an Advanced Plastic Processing Technology Centre (APPTC) at Balasore to meet the increasing requirements of the trained technical manpower for the plastic industry. Establishing APPTC – a Unit of CIPET Bhubaneswar will not only result in fulfilling the requirement of additional skilled Technical Manpower in the area of Plastics Processing but also will facilitate in rendering the Technology Support Services.

 

APPTC will fill up the demand & supply gap of skilled manpower of the processing industry in the Eastern region of the country by conducting long-term & short-term training programs in the areas of Plastics Processing Technologies.

 

The Planning Commission has approved the establishment of APPTC in Balasore at a total project cost of Rs.1500 lacs. CIPET Corporate at Chennai would be the Apex Body directing and controlling the project activities as per the directives of Department of Chemicals & Petrochemicals, Government of India. The State Government of Odisha has also agreed to share 50% of its cost and provide land for setting up of APPTC at Balasore.

 

Benefits of Establishing the APPTC at Balasore:

 

• During the first year of its establishment, the centre is expected to train & develop around 150 students in the field of plastic processing through long-term academic programmes and around 100 participants through short duration training programmes in the areas of plastic processing technology.

 

• Once the APPTC become full-fledged, the total intake of the students for long term courses will be 480 for three long term courses. In addition, the APPTC will also train 250 technical personnel from plastic industry every year through short term technology upgradation programmes.

 

• The APPTC centre at Balasore will also play a catalytic role in providing technology support services to the plastic & allied industries in around Balasore where a Plastic Park is being planned. Further, it is expected that more than 150 plastics processing / allied industries are likely to be started. This will boost the skilled manpower requirement in the area of plastics processing. In addition, as Balasore is well connected with other parts of the State and also the neighbouring States, the industries located at these places will also utilize the services of Balasore Plastics Park.

 

The dream of establishing a dedicated specialized centre on "Advanced Plastic Processing Technology Centre - (APPTC)" at Balasore, Orissa – a unit of CIPET, Bhubaneswar at Balasore has become a reality mainly on account of constant persuasion and sustained efforts made by Minister of State for Chemicals & Fertilizers.

 

dna/pkm/dk/kol/15:52 hrs.

 

Press Information Bureau

Government of India

* * * * * *

Prime Minister's Office

PM's address at Khazanah Global Lecture Series 2010

New Delhi: October 27, 2010.

 

Following is the text of the Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh's address at the Khazanah Global Lecture Series 2010:

 

"I was deeply honoured when my dear friend Prime Minister Najib invited me to deliver the very prestigious Khazanah Global Lecture and to speak to this distinguished gathering on India's development experience. I have very fond memories of previous visits to your beautiful country. And I have been an admirer of the great Malaysian miracle and therefore I am delighted to be here once again.

 

Malaysia, like India, had a prolonged experience of colonial rule. Today, your country is a vibrant, fast-growing economy and a hub of regional integration. The Straits of Malacca today is the world's busiest shipping corridor. I pay tribute to your leaders who have brought about this transformation since Malaysia's independence.

 

After gaining independence in 1947, India's principal challenge was to fulfill the aspirations of such a large and diverse society and civilisation that is home to all the great religions of the world, and has been so for many centuries.

Our founding fathers worked to build a strong state and the organs of our fledgling democracy. In the process, we built a diversified industrial base. We developed strong scientific capabilities, including high quality technical manpower.

 

Over time our growth began to lag behind that of other newly industrializing countries of Asia. Our economy got stifled with bureaucratic control. We also fell behind countries like Malaysia in integrating into the global and regional value chains created by post-War industrialization.

 

Our own policies began to change, gradually at first in the 1980s and much more decisively in the 1990s. We liberalized the domestic economy and opened up to foreign trade and investment. We recognized the need to encourage market forces. The private sector was increasingly freed to get on with its business.

 

I nitially, these changes met with resistance. But over time they came to be widely accepted, especially after the economy began growing at over 7% per annum from 1994. There has been no fundamental change in the direction of these policies since then and they enjoy broad domestic support regardless of party affiliation.

 

The economic reforms of the 1990s unleashed the creative and entrepreneurial spirit of Indian industry. Year after year we have seen first generation entrepreneurs taking risks, creating new business opportunities and getting plugged into this borderless world of the global economy. These new entrepreneurs are truly the children of economic liberalisation of the 1990s and have been an important factor behind India's fast growth in recent times.

 

India's growth has combined greater openness with an ability to withstand external turbulence. We were not buffeted by the East Asian crisis in 1997 primarily because our capital account was not as open as in many other countries in East Asia and our banking system had very little exposure to short term debt, which was the main source of volatility in 1997.

 

More recently, India's economic performance has shown further improvement. The gross national product of India grew at over 9.5% per annum for three consecutive years starting in 2005. After the global financial crisis exploded in 2008, our growth rate slowed down but India was even then among the three or four fastest growing nations in the world. We took a number of promotional measures to stimulate the economy and we expect 8.5% growth in the current year.

 

I wish to reflect on some key features of the new phase in India's economic development.

 

First, India seeks rapid economic growth that will create wealth for our people and also generate surpluses to fund our ambitious social development programmes, particularly in the areas of health, education and environment protection.

 

Second, we seek growth that creates employment and development that is socially and regionally balanced and inclusive.

 

Third, we seek to build a modern, knowledge and science-based economy to complement our agricultural and industrial base.

 

Fourth, we want our development to be sustainable so that the wealth of our natural resources is conserved for future generations as a matter of trust. Fifth, we seek a cooperative relationship with our neighbours and other partners so that we can prosper and benefit from one another's development.

 

Finally, India seeks to realize its development ambitions within the framework of a plural and secular democracy, where each citizen should have equal opportunity for economic, social and cultural advancement.

 

India's biggest asset is its people. At a time when the industrialised world is aging rapidly, India has the advantage of a young population. The dependency burden in India is expected to keep falling for at least another 20 years. It is expected that, in 2020, the average age of an Indian will be 29 years, compared to 37 for China and 48 for Japan.

 

But, a young population is an asset only if it is educated, skilled and finds productive employment. If this were to happen, our objective of realizing India`s potential to grow at 10% or more per annum for a substantial period of time can indeed become a reality. Rapid economic development requires high rates of savings and investment. For a long time it used to be the common wisdom that only an East Asian country could save and invest more than 30% of its national income. If that be true then, geography notwithstanding, India is today an East Asian country! India now saves and invests well over 30% of its GDP. In addition, our financial system – including the banking sector and the capital markets – is strong. This has helped support a boom in domestic investment. Domestic investment is complemented by strong Foreign Direct Investment flows which we greatly welcome.

 

Over the past few years we have initiated a number of far-reaching programmes that have the potential to change the face of rural India and to make our growth truly more inclusive. These cover rural health, employment guarantee, urban reforms and build up of rural infrastructure and focus on people's participation and empowerment and the quality of public services.

 

Inadequate infrastructure is a major constraint on our performance and we are determined to overcome it. In the eleventh Five Year Plan that ends in next year, we had targeted investment in infrastructure at 500 billion US dollars. We hope to step this up to one trillion US dollars in the 12th Five Year Plan. Malaysia has well known strengths in building infrastructure and we welcome greater Malaysian participation in this important sector of our economy.

 

There are big plans afoot in India to set up special investment funds that can be used to finance long-gestation infrastructure projects. We hope to attract Indian and international funding into these projects.

 

More than half of our population depends on agriculture for the bulk of their income. We are increasing our investment in agriculture. We hope to use our scientific capabilities to create a new growth momentum in agriculture through a second green revolution. This is vital for our food security and to ensure an inclusive growth process.

 

The future of the global economy in the 21st century lies in the knowledge economy. We are working to strengthen our competitive advantage in this area. We have increased the expenditure on Science & Technology as a proportion of our GDP. We are investing heavily in both basic and higher education. For the last fifty years, India had seven Indian Institutes of Technology and one Indian Institute of Science. In the last five years we have established eight new IITs and five more Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research. Both higher education and the Information Technology sectors are promising areas for India-Malaysia cooperation.

 

We would like our development processes to be sustainable. We do not wish to go down the path followed by the highly industrialised countries. We seek a model of sustainable development suited to our own needs, circumstances and genius. This is not an easy task for an emerging economy. We want to strike a careful balance between our needs of today and those of our future generations.

 

We have formulated an ambitious National Action Plan on Climate Change that is intimately linked to our energy security. We have launched a National Solar Mission that aims to build a capacity of 20,000 MW of solar power by the year 2022. There are national missions on water, green India, energy efficiency and on sustaining the Himalayan ecosystem.

 

I believe that it is vital for any country to keep its development options open. That is why we worked so hard on a civil nuclear initiative that has opened the doors for India to develop the option of clean nuclear energy as an important plank of our energy security.

 

Indian thinkers and leaders—names like Rabindranath Tagore and Jawaharalal Nehru easily spring to mind—have always been inspired by a global humanist vision.

 

As India's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru reminded us, the advancement of the nation—important though it is—must be viewed as a step to a better world for all of humanity.

 

We seek to continue this great tradition by being good global citizens. We seek cooperative frameworks that will enable us to be active members of groupings and communities in our neighborhood and region. We will work closely with countries in the regions around us - South Asia, South-East Asia, West Asia, Central Asia and the Indian Ocean littoral.

 

Our desire for openness has encouraged us to work with ASEAN towards an India-ASEAN comprehensive cooperation agreement. We have also finalised an India-Malaysia Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement, which will be signed shortly. Going beyond regional openness, we will work with Malaysia and other likeminded nations to strengthen the global multilateral trading system.

 

The basic objective of our development processes is to realize the values and ideals on which our Republic was founded. Our development efforts reflect and reinforce our ideals of equality, the right to a life of dignity and well being and brotherhood among all nations of the world.

 

When I was a student, few ever dreamt that India or China or other Asian nations would catch up with the industrialized world. Today, few doubt that a fundamental change in the global economy is underway. Dynamic emerging countries are growing rapidly despite a period of slow growth in the industrialized world. There is also a discernible shift in economic power towards Asia. India and Malaysia are both playing an important role in this process but more can be done.

 

I see many possibilities of synergy between India and Malaysia in the years ahead. We can learn lessons from each other's development experience. I am confident that we can greatly accelerate the pace of our bilateral economic engagement to our mutual benefit.

 

We face similar threats to our prosperity. We have a shared stake in eliminating the threats of extremism and terrorism; in maritime security in our region and the security of the sea-lanes of communication. We can make common cause to promote regional peace, security and stability.

 

I have spoken today about many things that bring us together and that can continue to keep us together. Indeed, there is no issue that divides us at present.

 

We seek with Malaysia a relationship of trust, goodwill and mutual interest.

 

I am convinced that if this and future generations of Indians and Malaysians remain true to the ideals of those who secured our national independence and forged our new nationhood, we will continue to prosper as good neighbours. Together we can and we will contribute to the prosperity of Asia and the world.

 

I wish the people of Malaysia peace, prosperity and happiness."

 

ad/sh/lv/dk/kol/15:52 hrs.

 




--
Palash Biswas
Pl Read:
http://nandigramunited-banga.blogspot.com/

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