Cuttack: “In a world mired with conflict, uncertainty and at times war, today India is recognised globally as a nation working for a common cause and in partnership with many nations,” External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said during his visit to Odisha’s Cuttack on Saturday.
Jaishankar said this while addressing a meeting on ‘Vishwa Bandhu Bharat’ on Saturday. He is on a two-day pre-poll visit to Odisha.
“We can partner with the US and Europe as well as Russia and African nations. Likewise, with Israel on one side as well as Gulf and Arab nations on another. These may be in conflict with each other but we can partner with all nations on different subjects and issues to take our national interests further. And this is Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas,” Jaishankar said.
He further added that India is taking Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas to the international level. “India’s effort is how to bring Sabka Vikas with Sabka Saath and how there is Sabka Prayas (effort) and Sabka Viswas (belief),” he said.
The External Affairs Minister said that a country that can deal with and establish partnerships with different countries for its national interests is called a Vishwa Bandhu.
Explaining further, he said when a country is a Viswa Bandhu, the globe wants to share the best resources, technology and resources with it. “Nations want to share their technology, forge partnerships and make the Vishwa Bandhu nation a part of the global supply chain. They look for a nation which is honest in this digital age,” he said and added that this is Modi’s guarantee and you know you can guarantee on Modi’s guarantee.
Stressing the need for forging strong partnership with other nations, he stated that a strong foundation has been built by the Modi government in the last 10 years and the next 25 years of Viksit Bharat journey will be based on it. “The more we forge relationships with other nations, the more assured we can be of a Viksit Bharat,” he said.
Jaishankar informed about three government projects in the pipeline to improve connectivity with the globe, including connecting India with Europe via UAE, that is, India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor, International North-South Corridor via Iran and Russia, and reaching Vietnam and the Indo-Pacific via Odisha coastline and North East region.
He said today countries like Saudi Arabia, Iran, Russia, Singapore, Vietnam, and others want to work and partner with India. “This will increase investment, employment and connectivity,” he added.
Prior to the event, Jaishankar told media that from a very young age he had the advantage of close association with people from Odisha and he found they were the most talented, educated and skilled. “They were the best in class,” he said and added the whole country has very high expectation from Odisha given the talent and resources it has.
Odisha is a state with a rich culture, tradition, heritage and some of the finest things in Indian history, said Jaishankar and questioned if the Prime Minister did not have high regard for Odisha why would he have chosen the Konark Chakra at the G20 venue.
“Such a proud culture has surely the capacity to produce representatives and leaders in its own rights. And that is what we are saying, the state should be led by someone who has come up from the grassroots here. Those are the right leaders and right future for the state,” he said.
