National
India values Asean’s role in regional peace: President Kovind
New Delhi, Jan 25 (IANS) President Ram Nath Kovind on Thursday said that India “greatly values” the role played by the Asean regional bloc in ensuring peace and prosperity in the region.
Speaking at a lunch he hosted in honour of the heads of state and government of the member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) who are here to attend the Commemorative Summit to mark 25 years of the India-Asean Dialogue Partnership, Kovind said that relations between India and the regional bloc have come a long way since the establishment of the partnership.
The Asean comprises Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
Stating that India’s Act East policy reinforces its ancient links with southeast Asia through enhanced political, security, economic and cultural ties, Kovind said: “In this context, India greatly values Asean’s role as a proponent of peace, stability and prosperity in the region. We iterate our support to Asean’s unity and centrality. We stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Asean in pursuit of a rules-based regional architecture that is open, inclusive, balanced and equitable.”
He said that India and Asean are bound by history and by geography.
“Culture, commerce and connectivity – and ideas and thought – have woven us together in one common fabric,” the President said.
“Our partnership is based on our shared heritage and is built on the foundation of strong people-to-people contacts, nurtured through the millennia. The theme of the Commemorative Summit, ‘Shared Values, Common Destiny’, is reflective of our desire to work for a shared future.”
The 10 Asean heads of state and government who attended the President’s lunch are Sultan of Brunei Haji Hassanal Bolkiah, Indonesia President Joko Widodo, Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte, Cambodia Prime Minister Hun Sen, Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Malaysia Prime Minister Najib Razak, Thailand Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, Myanmar State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, Vietnam Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and Laos Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith.
All these leaders will attend the Commemorative Summit on Thursday evening which will be addressed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi among others.
On Friday, in an unprecedented first, these leaders will collectively attend this year’s Republic Day celebrations as guests of honour.
–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.