National
India, Malaysia discuss counter-terrorism, defence cooperation
New Delhi, Jan 26 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Malaysian counterpart Najib Razak discussed counter-terrorism, defence and security cooperation, among a number of other issues at a bilateral meeting on Friday, an official said.
The meeting was held on the sidelines of the Commemorative Summit to mark 25 years of the India-Asean Dialogue Partnership here.
Describing Malaysia as an important strategic partner, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted that the “two leaders had an engaging discussion on defence and security, trade and investment, counter-terrorism and people-to-people links”.
India and Malaysia elevated their relationship to that of a Strategic Partnership during the visit of then Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to the southeast Asian nation in 2010.
Malaysia is India’s third largest trading partner in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) regional bloc after Indonesia and Singapore. India-Malaysia bilateral trade in 2016 stood at $11.72 billion.
At 2.7 million, Malaysia is home to one of the largest Indian diaspora in the world, accounting for nearly 10 per cent of the southeast Asian nation’s population.
Home to a large Tamil-speaking population, the Malaysian Indian Congress is a member of the ruling coalition.
Earlier on Friday, Razak was among all the 10 heads of state or government of the Asean nations who attended this year’s Republic Day celebrations as guests of honour, an unprecedented first.
The Malaysian Prime Minister, who arrived here on Wednesday, participated in the Commemorative Summit hosted by New Delhi on Thursday to mark 25 years of the India-Asean Dialogue Partnership.
Apart from Malaysia, the Asean comprises Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
–IANS
ab/nir/bg
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.