“Year of Russia” in India launched
12 February 2008, New Delhi |
1. The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh addressing the inaugural function of a Year of Russia in India with a Gala Concert.
2. The Prime Minister of Russia, Mr. Viktor A. Zubkov addressing the inaugural function
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(Continued from Page 1)The gala concert started with a musical prologue with orchestra playing introduction followed by welcome speeches by the Prime Ministers of the two countries. The gala concert featured more than 300 artists and showcased ballet, theatre, fashion, a youth circus, orchestra and music and dance under various performances including – “Winter Fair”; “Olympic Winter-2014”; “Song about India”; “World Masterpieces in Russian Performing Styles”; “Songs of our People”; “Cooperation in Space”; “Such a Diverse Russia”; and “We are Together”.
Over a dozen major Russian cultural performances are being held in several cities of India (Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bangalore) in the framework of the “Year of Russia” in India in 2008. These include traditional Russian classical and folk dances/music performances as well as a modern Pop band. The year 2009 would be marked as the “Year of India” in Russia.
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First India-Africa Forum Summit Held
08 April 2008, New Delhi |
The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh with other Heads of Country at the India-Africa Forum Summit, in New Delhi on April 08, 2008.
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The first India- Africa Summit was held in New Delhi. Following is the text of the Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh’s remarks at a Joint Press interaction at the concluding session of the First India-Africa Forum Summit in New Delhi.
“We have just concluded the First India-Africa Forum Summit. This is a historic Summit between India and countries representing the AU and the Regional Economic Communities of Africa. Over the last two days we have held extremely substantive and productive discussions on all issues which confront India and Africa. The Summit was held in an atmosphere of great friendship, warmth and sense of partnership. The Summit has adopted the Delhi Declaration and the Africa-India Framework for Cooperation. These documents constitute the blueprint for our cooperation in the 21st Century.
Our decision to expand unilateral duty free and preferential market access for exports from all the 50 Least Developed Countries, 34 of which are in Africa, and our offer of lines of credit amounting to $5.4 billion are steps in this direction. The enhancement of our budget for technical assistance and training programmes and, greater opportunities for African students to pursue studies in India reflect the priority we attach to human resource development and capacity building.
The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh interacting with Press at the India-African Forum Summit,
The President of Tanzania, Mr. Jakaya Kikwete and the AU Commissioner, Professor Alpha Konare are also seen.
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In the Retreat, we had a very constructive discussion on issues such as food and energy security, UN reforms, climate change and trade. We found several commonalities in the challenges that face us and in our aspirations. I offered Indian assistance in ushering in a Green Revolution in Africa through holistic capacity building in agricultural production, storage and transportation. While we have met over these two days at the government level we have also undertaken several outreach events before or concurrent with the Summit.
These are:
- The first ever India-Africa Editors Conference
- Joint performances by Indian and African cultural troupes
- A seminar of intellectuals from Africa and India on India-Africa Partnership in the 21st century
- A programme for youth and women from Africa
- A business conclave. India has also begun to develop cooperation with the Regional Economic Communities of Africa and with the African Union (AU). India’s pan-African e-network project is an example of our cooperation at the continent wide level.
We have laid firm foundations on which to build the new framework of cooperation. It is now time to plan ahead to implement the joint programmes of cooperation and to build a meaningful and productive Indo-African partnership. India looks forward to doing so with all the resources at our disposal.
We greatly cherish the friendship and empathy that Africa has always shown to India. This is an asset to our foreign policy. We in turn hope that this Summit has enabled us to convey to the people of Africa India’s readiness to be a partner in their quest for stability, peace and prosperity.I would like to conclude by thanking my colleagues from Africa for their active participation in the Summit and for their whole-hearted endorsement for a stronger and deeper India-Africa partnership.” |
High level delegations visit Russia
March 2008, Russia |
(Continued from Page 1) The Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) and his spouse were received with traditional Russian warmth. The visit further strengthened the cooperation between the two countries. Admiral Mehta also had a chance to visit Severodvinsk where the aircraft carrier “Vikramaditya” (Admiral Gorshkov) is being refurbished and refitted for the Indian Navy. CNS departed Moscow for India on March 19, 2008 at the end of a successful visit.
On the economic side, a delegation from the State Trading Corporation (STC), and the Minerals and Metals Trading Corporation (MMTC), visited Moscow during the month for discussions with their Russian counterparts. In addition, a delegation from the Indian Ministry of Agriculture also visited Moscow during the month for discussions with their counterparts on trade in agricultural produce. A delegation from the Railway Board of India visited Moscow to attend the India-Russia Steering Committee looking into cooperation in the sphere of Railways.
Importantly, March also witnessed Indian participation in prestigious Russian exhibitions and trade fairs. ‘INDII Sankt-Peterburg 2008’ was organised by the Engineering Exports Promotion Council of India during March 11 to 14, and 141 Indian companies participated in the event. The Indian Tourist Office in Frankfurt participated in the ‘Intour Market’ Exhibition held in Moscow from March 15 to 18, and a delegation from the Indian Exports Promotion Council for Handicrafts attended the ‘Gifts Expo 2008’ held in Moscow from March 24 to 27. A delegation from Cotton Textiles Export Promotion Council of India attended the ‘Textillegprom’ exhibition held in Moscow from March 25 to 28.
Russian agencies and organizations also participated in exhibitions in India, and prominent among them was the Russian participation at the CHEMEXIL-organised ‘Chemical Meet 2008’, and the Buyer-Seller meeting held thereafter, in Mumbai during March 28 to 30. |
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Narayana Murthy to join
HSBC board
Global banking giant HSBC on Monday said Indian IT major Infosys’ Chief Mentor N. R. Narayana Murthy would join its board in May with an annual remuneration of 65,000 pounds (about Rs. 52 lakh). “Nagavara Ramarao Narayana Murthy CBE (61) has been appointed a Director of HSBC Holdings plc with effect from May 1. He will be an independent Non-Executive Director, HSBC said in a regulatory filing here. The appointment shall be for an initial three-year term, which would expire at the conclusion of the 2011 Annual General Meeting,
it said.
Source : The Indian Express |
EU proposes Gandhian
non-violence to promote
human rights
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The European Parliament (EP) in its annual report on human rights in the world has said it considers "Gandhian non-violence to be the most appropriate means of ensuring that fundamental human rights are enjoyed, upheld, promoted and respected". The report on the status of human rights in 2007 proposed that promotion of non-violence "should constitute a priority objective in EU human rights and democracy policy", reported EuAsiaNews. With a view to giving this idea a central political role, the EP report called for a European conference on non-violence to be convened in 2009 and that 2010 be designated the European Year of Non-Violence. It called on EU member states to endeavour within the UN set-up to ensure that 2010-2020 is proclaimed the Decade of Non-Violence.
The EP's Foreign Affairs Committee adopted the draft report oand it will be voted on by the EP's plenary session on May 8. Italian MP Marco Cappato who authored the report said: "This (Gandhian non-violence) concept does not only mean non-violence but it's something active like not collaborating with an authoritarian regime, a hunger strike or the sabotage of violent acts against the population." The report criticised the human rights situation in China, Iran, Pakistan and Russia. The EP expressed "its disquiet at the serious human rights violations in China and stresses that despite promises made by the regime with a view to the forthcoming Olympic Games, the situation on the ground regarding human rights has not improved".
The report noted the worsening human rights situation in Pakistan throughout 2007, in particular the threats to the independence of the judiciary and the freedom of the media. An attempt by British EP member of Pakistani origin, Sajjad Karim, to include a reference to Kashmir in the report was rejected. The report also condemned the ongoing violations of human rights and democracy by the military junta in Myanmar.
Source - Hindustan Times |
Incredible India’ campaign all set to go places, literally
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The Tourism Ministry’s ambitious campaign ‘Incredible India’ is all set to go places, and quite literally, as major international flights including British Airways and Lufthansa, have agreed to the Ministry’s proposal to show TV commercials and films promoting Indian tourism in overseas markets, in their flights. This in-flight campaign, which is considered mutually beneficial, will be run free of cost. This was decided on a meeting held at the Ministry, in which officials from the Tourism and Civil Aviation ministries were present. Apart from the British Airways and Lufthansa, the meeting had representations from Quantas, Sri Lankan Air, Turkies Airlines, Asiana Airlines, All Nippon Airlines, Delta Airlines, Air France, Singapore Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, Swiss International and Finn Air. The Ministry and the airlines are also working on a proposal to bring travel writers from respective countries to India on free airfare basis to further promote tourism. While the criteria of selecting the writers will be left to the airlines, the Ministry would provide boarding, lodging, etc.
Source : The Indian Express |
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