NetIndian News Network
New Delhi, September 14, 2010
President Pratibha Patil speaking at a reception hosted by the Indian Ambassador in Cambodia, Rajesh K. Sachdeva, at Phnom Phen, Cambodia on September 13, 2010
President Pratibha Patil has said that India was happy to cooperate with Cambodia in infrastructural projects as well as in projects related to conservation and preservation of historical monuments.
Speaking at a reception last night for the Indian community in Phnom Penh at the start of a State Visit to the country, Ms Patil noted that human resource development and capacity building had been the primary focus of bilateral relations between the two countries.
The President reached Phnom Penh yesterday after a four-day visit to Laos and is due to return home on September 18.
She said most of the historical and cultural monuments spread all over Cambodia spoke of the close Indian association made possible as a result of continuous interaction between navigators, merchants and intellectuals of the two countries over a period of two thousand years.
"One has heard so much about the grandeur of the world famous Angkor Wat and many astonishing architectural marvels such as Ta Prohm, Bayon and Banteay Srey. I and my delegation would be visiting Siem Reap where all these magnificent cultural monuments, which are glorious testimony to our common cultural heritage, are located," she said.
Ms Patil said she was informed that there were many commonalities in the day-to-day life of the people of Cambodia with Indians, such as language, customs and rituals. "This must be a product of our ancestors' willingness to learn from each other and is an indication of the everlasting bonds of friendship," she said.
She expressed happiness that the Governments of the two countries had strived to regain old historical bonds.
"In the 1950s, India was associated with the International Control Commission on Indo-China and our role as Co-Chairman was well appreciated. There were numerous high level exchanges between our two countries," she said.
She also spoke of the close friendly ties that existed between Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and King Norodom Sihanouk, which paved the way for not only excellent bilateral ties, but also offered opportunities to the two leaders to exchange views on the role of newly liberated countries in the development of a peaceful world.
Ms Patil said everyone was aware of India's unwavering support to Cambodia not only in good times but also during the difficult period of its history.
"After the collapse of the Khmer Rouge regime in Cambodia, India was among the first countries to recognize President Heng Samrin's government and re-open its diplomatic mission in 1981. Since then, the Governments of India and Cambodia have worked together to expand and deepen our bilateral ties, through high level bilateral exchanges, as well as through interactions at regional and international fora," she noted.
She said that, over the years, the two countries had signed numerous agreements to enhance bilateral cooperation, and had also established mechanisms to exchange views and to review the status of ongoing projects.
The President appreciated the role played by the Government of Cambodia in India's engagement with the South-East Asian region. She recalled that India attained Summit level partnership with ASEAN under Cambodia's Chairmanship of the ASEAN in 2002, and a forthcoming Commemorative Summit in India to mark India's 20-year association with ASEAN too will be organized, during Cambodia's Chairmanship in 2012.
"India is satisfied with its friendly and cooperative ties with Cambodia and would continue to work for strengthening of these ties," she said.
Ms Patil had a special word of praise for people of Indian origin and non-resident Indians, saying they were amongst the best educated and most successful communities in the world.
She said India had the second largest diaspora, estimated at over 25 million, present in every major region of the world.
"We are proud of you, and aware of the important role the diaspora plays as a 'bridge' to access knowledge, expertise, resources and markets for the development of the country of their origin," she added.
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