KASHIF HASNAIN
New Delhi: In his speech on 69th Republic Day celebration Prime Minister Narendra Modi pitched to strengthen relation with Asean countries.
He highlighted the economic benefits of Asean counties ties.
In his piece, PM Modi talked about the India-Asean countries’ partnership that will be of “great promise for their (nations’) 1.9 billion people, (or) about one-fourth of humankind.”
He talked of India’s centuries-old ties with its eastern neighbours and said the future of these ties looks even more promising.
“Indians have always looked East to see the nurturing sunrise and the light of opportunities. Now, as before, the East, or the Indo-Pacific region, will be indispensable to India’s future and our common destiny.”
“India and Asean nations have relations free from contests and claims. We have a common vision for the future, built on commitment to inclusion and integration, belief in sovereign equality of all nations irrespective of size, and support for free and open pathways of commerce and engagement,” wrote PM Modi in his piece.
On eve of 69th Republic Day, President of India, Ram Nath Kovind addressed the nation. In his address he promised for a developed India and shown his trust on the youth to take this vision forward.
In a speech broadcast on Thursday evening, Kovind spoke of the need to empower the youth, deliver justice to women, upgrade and enlarge education systems, nutrition for children and equal rights for girls, among other issues.
“The promise of a developed India beckons us. This is the new stage of our nation-building project on which we have embarked. This is the republic that our young people need to take forward and enhance—in keeping with their vision, their ambition and their ideals,” Kovind said.
