Shri Narendra Modiji, Honourable Prime Minister of India
Shri M.J. Akbar, Honourable Minister of State for External Affairs
Presidents, Prime Ministers and Ministers in the audience
Distinguished delegates and guests from all over the world
Ladies and Gentlemen
Welcome to the second Raisina Dialogue, co-hosted by the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, and the Observer Research Foundation. The Dialogue first met in March in 2016, and it would be an understatement to say that the intervening 10 months have been rather tumultuous for the international system. Be it technology, society, trade or politics - Disruption has become the new watch word. The certitudes of past decades are being constantly challenged and called into question.
But then we are optimists here, we hope that this is creative disruption, and are gathered here to talk about the emergence of a new order from within the fog and mists uncertainty. And we believe that while the shape of the institutions, protocols and regimes that will claim the new world may be uncertain, what is certain is that this is a seminal moment – one that is going to shape the future of our shared planet for the remainder of the 21st century.
Respected Prime Minister, I recall that when we had called upon you to brief you about this platform you had expressed great interest in our theme for this Dialogue – The Search for a New Normal….. In this uncertain world the shifting dynamic between “Multilateralism and Multipolarity” places far greater urgency to find that new normal which will push forward our shared global concern for peace, prosperity and stability.
Since May 2014, the world has been witnessing a new India a more confident India - bringing a new dynamism and energy in its engagement with the world. In more ways than one, the spirit that you have infused into India’s foreign policy really reflects the demographic essence of this nation – the vigour of its youth - of a nation invested in the future of the world.
And in keeping with the same spirit we acted upon your suggestion to bring in young minds with fresh ideas into this dialogue. This year we have therefore introduced our Young Leader’s Programme as an integral component of the Raisina Dialogue. Our audience today also has 39 Raisina Young Fellows, all under 35 years of age, from 26 countries representing between them every continent.
For this is precisely what the Raisina Dialogues, begun last year have been about - about the role of emerging global leadership in finding common pathways. Sir, the Raisina Dialogue may be a platform designed, built and located in India, but it is platform that is dedicated to the citizens and nations of the world. In that sense it belongs not to us but to each and everyone of the 250 international delegates who have travelled from 65 nations to be here.
Therefore it is all the more our special privilege to have you here to initiate the rich conversations that we hope to host over the next two days. Your assessment of the region and the global order will lay the ground for the deliberations to follow.
We are honoured and thankful for your support and presence here this evening. Mr Prime Minister may I request you to address this distinguished gathering that has come to hear you. The floor is yours Sir.
< style="color: #960f0f">Raisina 2017 Inauguration by Prime Minister of India
< style="color: #960f0f">World needs India as it needs the world: PM Modi
< style="color: #960f0f">< style="color: #960f0f">Text of Inaugural Address by PM Modi
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