Former Prime Minister of India - Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee

Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee's speech at State Luncheon at Maldives

Following is the text of the speech of the Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee at the State Luncheon hosted by the President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom of the Republic of Maldives, at Male, today:

~I thank you for your kind words of friendship. It is a great pleasure to be here today in your beautiful country. My delegation and I deeply appreciate the warm and friendly hospitality, which we have received here ever since our arrival yesterday.

Mr. President,

When we met in Kathmandu in January this year, I had promised you that I would visit your country soon. I have redeemed that promise. As close neighbours and trusted friends, we must maintain the tradition of frequent high-level dialogue to enrich our relationship and enhance our cooperation.

Our excellent bilateral relations flow from our shared history, geographical proximity and cultural affinities. We have built on this solid foundation with regular political consultations and intensive economic collaboration. India has always been – and remains – committed to assisting in the progress and development of Maldives. We shall not waver in this resolve.

Mr. President,

We in India have great respect for your long and distinguished service to your country. Under your wise leadership, Maldives has enjoyed continued political stability and steady economic growth. You have the highest per capita income among the countries of South Asia. You have adapted harmoniously to the consequences of globalization. Your outstanding success in developing your tourism sector to international standards has lessons for many countries, including India.

At the same time, it is most impressive to see how the Maldivian people have preserved their cultural identity and national traditions, even while adapting to change and modernity. Undoubtedly, the credit for this goes to your strong emphasis on education and the amazing achievement of nearly 100% literacy. You have graphically illustrated the truism that the balanced progress of a nation is inextricably linked to the level of education of its people.

Excellency,

We have had wide-ranging discussions today on our bilateral cooperation. Our ongoing projects are proceeding very satisfactorily. We have also looked ahead to newer areas of our future collaboration.

India’s commitment to the health and education sectors in Maldives is demonstrated in bricks and mortar by the Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital and the Maldives Institute of Technical Education. We will continue to remain involved in these projects for their expansion, modernization and human resource development. We are similarly committed to assisting in your prestigious Population Consolidation and Development Programme.

Today, we lay the foundation for concrete collaboration in your tourism sector through the new project for the Faculty of Hospitality and Tourism studies.

Our cooperation in human resource development spans an entire range – from defence to hospitality, from medicine to Information Technology. We will further widen and intensify this range.

We have also discussed some new ideas – for an IT village, for the ecological preservation of Hulhumale, for digital mapping of your islands, for a telemedicine link and for a remote sensing centre. These lay down markers for our future endeavours.

Our security and defence cooperation is following a focussed programme of equipment supplies and military training. The joint ~Dosti~ exercises of our two Coast Guards aptly symbolize our deepening service-to-service friendship.

We also have common perspectives within SAARC and among the nations of the Indian Ocean Rim community. We understand the need for close regional cooperation for poverty alleviation and equitable economic development in our region. Some irrational political motivations are hindering our efforts for closer economic integration within SAARC. As I had said at the SAARC Summit in Kathmandu, India is willing to extend – unilaterally, if necessary – the maximum possible economic and trade concessions to the least developed countries within SAARC. We cannot let growth and development remain hostage to petty political jealousies.

Excellency,

Our partnership with Maldives is truly special, since it is entirely based on mutual benefit for our peoples. This is a firm foundation for an enduring friendship and close bilateral understanding.

I wish you, Mr. President – and all those present here – health and well being. I also convey the sincere feelings of the people of India for the progress and prosperity for the friendly people of Maldives.~