Date: 21st August 2015
Venue: ITC Rajputana, Jaipur
Indian Council for World Affairs (ICWA) hosted a lunch on 21st August, 2015, for the Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC) Heads of State/ Government/Delegation, at ITC Rajputana, Jaipur. The event was attended by 94 guests, including Presidents of Marshall Islands, Nauru and Palau; Vice President of Micronesia; and Prime Ministers of Fiji, Niue, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Tuvalu and Vanuatu. From the Indian side, Gen. V.K. Singh (Retd), Hon’ble Minister of State in the Ministry of External Affairs and Amb. Nalin Surie, Director General, ICWA, received the guests.
In his opening remarks, Shri Nalin Surie, DG, ICWA, who was also the host for the event, welcomed the dignitaries to the ICWA luncheon. While providing a brief glimpse of the principles and operations of ICWA, Amb. Surie drew attention to the India’s commitment to assistance for the sustainable development of the Forum countries.
Minister of State (EA), in his address, spoke about the warm and friendly relations between the countries of the region and India. He highlighted the successful visit of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi to Fiji in November, 2014 and his meetings with other leaders of the region. He stated that the existing bonds further needed to be strengthened and energised by way of active and constructive engagements in diverse fields of mutual interest.
This was followed by presentations on the subject of (a) UN Security Council reform, (b) maritime cooperation between India and Pacific Island nations, and (c) possibilities for capacity building and disaster management in various areas by Shri Munu Mahawar, JS(UNP), MEA, Shri A.K. Sanghi JS (Mitigation) NDMA and Rear Admiral Dhiren Vig, MoD respectively. A short film ‘Solar mamas of the Pacific’ by Barefoot College, Tilonia was also screened on the occasion.
21 August, 2015
Jaipur
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