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WorldPosted at: Jun 2 2015 11:43AM


People of India & Sweden want enhancement of co-operation to its full potential: Prez

By Rajesh Ahuja Stockholm, Jun 2 (UNI) President Pranab Mukherjee today said people of India and Sweden share a desire to see enhancement of their co-operation to its full potential. Addressing the state banquet hosted by the King of Sweden Carl XVI Gustaf in his honour at the Royal palace last night, the President said, ''Your Majesty, India attaches great importance to its long-standing friendship with Sweden. Though our two nations are geographically distant from each other, we are bound by our common commitment to democratic values and practice. We are both open, pluralistic societies that are committed to the protection of human rights and the Rule of Law.'' ''We have, over the years, developed mutual trust and goodwill that has brought our people together to achieve our common goals in many sectors. Our bilateral relations have never been better and our people share a desire to see the enhancement of our co-operation to its full potential,'' Mr Mukherjee said. Deeply appreciating the splendid welcome and the gracious hospitality accorded to him and his delegation by the Swedish government, the President expressed confidence that the bilateral agreements signed during his visit will lead to further fruitful engagement in many fields where India and Sweden have obvious complementarities. Noting that India and Sweden have similar views on many issues of regional and global concern, the President thanked Sweden for its endorsement of India's claim to permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council and its efforts to help India achieve Observer status in the Arctic Council during the period of Sweden’s chairmanship. ''We have been co-operating closely in the United Nations and other multilateral fora - where India appreciates the support that we have received and continue to receive from Sweden. We are grateful for your endorsement of India's rightful claim to Permanent Membership of the United Nations Security Council and for your proactive efforts that helped India achieve Observer status in the Arctic Council during the period of Sweden’s Chairmanship,''the President said. Referring to the Nobel prize for literature awarded to Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore in 1913, the President said the award was reflective of the tremendous interest shown by Swedish society in works of Gurudev. ''It was just over a hundred years ago that our great philosopher and poet Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore, received the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1913. He was not only the first Indian, but in fact, the first non-European to be a Nobel Laureate in literature. This was only possible due to the great interest shown by the Swedish Society in the literary works of Tagore as early as 1911. Prince William of Sörmland visited Kolkata around the same time and wrote about his experiences in Kolkata and the Tagore family in his book entitled “Där solen lyser” (There the sun shines). Gurudev visited Sweden in 1921 and 1926. These were probably the first recorded visits of an eminent Indian dignitary to Sweden. He was greeted, among others, by His Majesty the King Gustav V,'' the President said. He extended an invitation to the Swedish king to visit India again. ''Your Majesty, you made a State Visit to India in 1993 and subsequently in 2005 on the Royal Technology Mission. It has been a decade since then. I am honoured to continue the tradition and would like to invite Your Majesties to visit India again - at a time of your convenience. It would be a great pleasure and privilege to receive you in New Delhi,'' the President said. He congratulated the people of Sweden for their creativity and their ingenious innovations and thanked them for giving to the world some of the most important and life-changing inventions. He also extended best wishes of the government and the people of India to the people of Sweden as they celebrate their National Day on June 6. The banquet was attended by Crown Princess Victoria, prince Daniel and members of the Swedish government. Mr Mukherjee arrived here yesterday on a state visit to Sweden, the first ever by an Indian head of state to the country. UNI AR SV SB 1143
Tags: #People of India & Sweden want enhancement of co-operation to its full potential: Prez
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