(KPL) The Indian Embassy in Vientiane last Thursday organized activities to celebrate the 74th anniversary of Independence Day of the Republic of India in Vientiane in the presence of senior officials and members of Indian community in Laos.

A flag hoisting ceremony was held at the embassy in the morning of the day. Indian Ambassador to Laos Dinkar Asthana read the speech of Indian President Droupadi Murmu which extended the President’s heartiest greetings to every Indian, at home and abroad.

The message read in part: India is called the mother of democracy. As a modern Republic, however, we are young. In the early years of Independence, we faced countless challenges and adversities. Very high levels of poverty and illiteracy were just two of the many ill-effects of the long foreign rule. Yet, the spirit of India was undeterred. With hope and confidence, we began an experiment unique in the history of humankind. Such a vast and diverse multitude of people coming together as one nation remains unprecedented. We did so with a belief that we are, after all, one; that we are all Indians. We have succeeded as a democratic republic because so many creeds and so many languages have not divided us, they have only united us. That is the essence of India.

India’s Republic Day is celebrated on 26 January every year to commemorate the entry into force of the Constitution of India in 1950.

Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Bounkham Vorachit, Minister of Education and Sports Phuth Simmalavong, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Phoxay Khaykhamphithoun, and other senior officials of Laos and India joined a reception hosted in the evening by the Indian Ambassador.

The reception was also attended by members of Indian community in Laos.

“I am particularly happy that today’s celebration is being held when India is celebrating its Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav—as we affectionately call our celebrations of 75 years of progressive India and the glorious history of its people, culture and achievements. Also, the 25 years to the centenary of our Independence in 2047 have been named Amrit Kaal by the Government, during which Indian citizens should strive to fulfil the dreams and goals of an aspirational society based on inclusive development across the country by giving a topmost priority to their duty towards the nation,” said Indian Ambassador Dinkar Asthana.

“Religious, cultural, and people-to-people linkages between India and Laos go back thousands of years. In the 1950s, India was Chairman or Chief Commissioner of the International Commission for Supervision and Control on Indo-China. Diplomatic relations between our countries, as modern nation-states, were established in 1956,” Ambassador Dinkar Asthana mentioned.

As a fellow developing country, India extends developmental assistance to Laos based on the principles of South-South Cooperation.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi confirmed India’s commitment to continue its development partnership with the Lao PDR in a telephonic conversation with the then Prime Minister Dr. Thongloun Sisoulith in June 2020.

India’s development cooperation in the Lao PDR covers many areas—capacity building through Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation Programme and long-term scholarships for higher studies, Quick Impact Projects for socio-economic development under grant assistance, projects under lines of credit, joint Lao-India centres for English language training and entrepreneurship development as well as heritage conservation projects, including restoration of the UNESCO World Heritage site, the iconic Vat Phou by experts from the Archaeological Survey of India.

“India will work to ensure that the valuable inputs generated from partner countries in the Voice of the Global South Summit deliberations receive due cognizance globally, as reflected in the theme of our Presidency of the G20, namely, “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” or “One Earth – One Family – One Future,” said the Indian ambassador.

Source:
courtesy of KPL NEWS AGENCY

by KPL NEWS AGENCY

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