National
Asean connect: Sushma holds meet with Governors of northeastern states
New Delhi, Nov 23 (IANS) As India boosts its trade, connectivity and people-to-people ties with southeast Asia under the Act East Policy, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Thursday held an interactive meeting with the Governors of the northeastern states and the Lieutenant Governor of Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Stating that acting east through India’s northeastern region, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted that Sushma Swaraj chaired the interactive discussion with the Governors of the northeastern states and the Lieutenant Governor of Andaman and Nicobar Islands to synchronise the views of the northeastern states into the Asean-centric Act East Policy.
“The interactive discussion will feed into the deliberations at the Asean-India Commemorative Summit 2018 marking 25 years of Asean-India dialogue relations featuring an enhanced role for the northeastern region, India’s gateway to the Asean,” Kumar said.
This year marks the silver anniversary of the dialogue partnership between India and the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean).
To mark the conclusion of a series of events celebrating this milestone, an Asean-India Commemorative Summit will be held in New Delhi on January 25, 2018, which is expected to be attended by the leaders of Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
These leaders will also attend next year’s Republic Day celebrations collectively as chief guests.
The India-Asean relationship was elevated to that of a Strategic Partnership in 2012 during the 20th anniversary Commemorative Summit in New Delhi.
Earlier this month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the 15th India-Asean Summit in the Philippines’ capital Manila during which he reaffirmed New Delhi’s commitment to strengthen ties with southeast Asia.
Trade between India and Asean stood at $71 billion in 2016-17 and comprised 10.85 per cent of India’s total trade with the world.
Asean and India together comprise a population of 1.85 billion, one-fourth of the global population, and a combined GDP of $3.8 trillion.
Investments in India from Asean countries in the last 17 years had been over $70 billion, accounting for 17 per cent of FDI. Indian investments in Asean is over $40 billion.
The signal effort under the India-Asean connectivity initiative is the India-Myanmar-Thailand trilateral highway and talks are underway to extend this to Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam as well.
Several projects on people-to-people connectivity are held annually to increase interaction between India and the Asean community.
–IANS
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National
Foodman Vishal Singh Honored for Hunger Free World Mission in Bangkok
Lucknow: Vishal Singh, a renowned social worker from Lucknow, also known as Foodman, has once again made India proud. He was honored by the Happy Hands Gloves Cooperative Limited Company in Korathai, Thailand, for his work with the Hunger Free World Mission.
The Hunger Free World Mission’s meeting was held in Korathai, Thailand, under Vishal Singh’s leadership. Representatives from several countries, including Mr. Raja Dwivedi (Managing Director of Happy Hands Gloves Limited), Thailand Coordinator Mr. Raja Mishra, and member Mr. Varun Singh, attended the event.
Under Vishal Singh’s leadership, the attendees took a pledge to work together toward creating a hunger-free world.
Speaking on the occasion, Vishal Singh explained that the main goal of the Hunger Free World Mission is social participation. He said the mission is not just about feeding people but also about meeting other basic needs of those who are struggling. The mission focuses on helping families of terminally ill patients in hospitals by providing food and shelter. It also works to fulfill essential needs like education, jobs, and care for the elderly.
For the last 16 years, the Vijay Sri Foundation has been providing free services, benefiting thousands of people. Vishal Singh highlighted that the mission aims to gain global recognition like other organizations such as WHO, WWF, and Red Cross, which work for social causes.
During this meeting, Vishal Singh was appointed as the Chairman of the Hunger Free World Mission by representatives from various countries. They also discussed holding regular meetings in different countries to push the mission forward.
Business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has also supported this humanitarian mission, vowing to promote the idea of “Seva Parmo Dharma” (Service is the highest duty) worldwide. Vishal Singh praised him, stating that people like Dr .Abhishek Verma inspire others to work for the betterment of society.
Recently, Romania’s Ambassador, Mr . Daniela Sezonov Ţane, invited Vishal Singh to the Romanian Embassy in Delhi, where they discussed the mission in detail. Impressed by his humanitarian work, she honored Vishal Singh and invited him to Romania to take the mission forward .
Food man Vishal Singh has been serving the people of India for the past 16 years. Through the Vijay Sri Foundation, he provides free meals to cancer patients & their families ,shelter, and education for women & children along with running free old-age homes in Lucknow.
In addition to his humanitarian work, Vishal Singh also addresses issues like crime and corruption through his role as Chairman of Seva Path Media and Managing Director of Vijay Sri Foundation.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Vishal Singh and his team worked tirelessly to provide food and help to the needy, including starving children, elderly citizens, and pregnant women. Despite contracting the virus himself, he continued to assist others after his recovery. He even created a life-saving oxygen regulator using household items, which was praised by doctors both in India and abroad.
In his address at the meeting, Vishal Singh spoke about his mission to create a hunger-free world. He pointed out that India’s large population, along with issues like unemployment and poverty, has caused the country to fall on the Hunger Index. He urged people to contribute just one handful of grains daily to help create a hunger-free world.
He concluded by saying that through social participation, we can empower the people around us, meet their basic needs, and work together to build a stronger, more prosperous, and developed society.