Kapil Sibal welcomes exchange programmes with Bangladesh

Tripura, Jan 12 (ANI): Asserting that education is the real tool of empowerment, Union Human Resource and Development (HRD) Minister Kapil Sibal on Thursday said the exchange of people as well as the large number of students from Bangladesh, who come to study in India provides the foundation for a lasting friendship.

Sibal in his speech at a special convocation of Tripura University said that these individual exchanges and interactions between the two nations have served as an important adjunct to official-level interactions.

"The good-will that you have generated, Excellency, especially after you have taken up the premiership is furthering this close relationship. Excellency, as a result of your initiatives and efforts, both sides recognize each other's concerns and sensitivities to strengthen the foundations of a bilateral relationship based on mutual understanding, trust and faith," said Sibal.

"l believe that both countries are now poised to leverage the complementarities in the realms of trade, investments, sharing of technology and human resource development to forge a stronger partnership than ever before for inclusive development," he added.

Kapil Sibal said the world in the second decade of the New Millennium is witnessing a paradigm shift from the past, hitherto characterised by unequal negotiations between the dominant West and the developing East: their technology and finance leveraging our markets and resources.

"Things today are no more the same. In the New Economic international Order (NlEO), emerging economies have increased bargaining power. Our economies are on the ascendance in the global economic cycle of prosperity. It is time for India and Bangladesh and seize the opportunities that lie ahead for mutual benefit," he added.

Asserting that the challenges before both the sides are similar, Sibal said: "The size of our markets, the pace of development and our human skills and potential coupled with our natural resources and strategic location call for creating synergies and a new viable partnership. We must grab the opportunities that globalisation is offering to ensure inclusive, all-round growth in both our regions to collaborate and realise our dreams."

"We must combat poverty and embrace a model of development that is inclusive to provide a better life for the millions of poor and disadvantaged in our countries and region," he added.

Emphasizing that the youth here represent the powerhouse of the global economy of the future, Sibal said: "The young are our future. We have a responsibility to create an appropriate environment to help them plan their lives. We must help them face the challenges of tomorrow to reshape the world. ln a global, interconnected, mutually dependent world, the way forward is through building partnerships."

"l am pleased to state that the South Asian University, that emerged as a partnership of nations in the SAARC region, has commenced its academic activities last year, and young men and women from six South Asian nations are already living and studying here. The SAU is an ambitious and visionary idea holding great promise of creating a world-class university in our region through the joint efforts of all eight member states," he added.

Welcoming Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who was conferred the Doctor of Literature honoris causa at the 9th Convocation of Tripura University, Kapil Sibal said India and Bangladesh have " a shared history, common heritage, language and cultural ties, a equal passion for music, literature and arts. " .

Sibal said Bangladesh and India share a common history of struggle for freedom and liberation but there is also enduring fraternal as well as familial ties across the borders.

"The commemoration of the 150th birth anniversary of Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore, that great embodiment of multiple virtues and talents, was an occasion for celebrations in both our countries. We can proudly say that we share a commonality in our National anthems too. This commonality is reflected in the multi-dimensional relations that we have at several levels of interaction," he added. (ANI)