SPEECH
BY SHRI K.R. NARAYANAN, PRESIDENT OF INDIA, WHILE ACCEPTING
CREDENTIALS FROM MR. PEDRO JOSE GONZALEZ-RUBIO, AMBASSADOR-DESIGNATE
OF MEXICO TO INDIA
NEW DELHI, FEBRUARY 11,
2000
Excellency,
I am delighted to welcome
you back again to India as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
of the United States of Mexico. I also greatly appreciate the cordial greetings
and best wishes that H.E. Dr. Ernesto Zedillo, President of Mexico has conveyed
to me through you.
Relations between India
and Mexico are based on mutual respect and friendship. As you have very
rightly said, Excellency, our countries share commonalities in the form
of our rich traditional cultures, our unwavering commitment to the UN Charter
and our strong adherence to the principles of democracy and the use of peaceful
means to settle international disputes. As co-members of the Six-Nation
initiative on nuclear disarmament and the G-15 group of countries, we share
similar views on several major international issues which are of utmost
importance in the reshaping of the world in the new century.
It must be a matter of
special satisfaction to you that your re-appointment as Ambassador in India
coincides with the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the diplomatic
relations between Mexico and India. The year 2000 is of worldwide significance
in a number of ways. It is of special value to us as it also marks the 50th
anniversary of the establishment of the Indian Republic. We hope that these
remarkable coincidences will add a new fillip to our bilateral relationship.
Excellency, you have
pointed out the many possibilities of cooperation between our two countries.
India has always been open to share its experiences with friendly countries
in achieving a better quality of life for our people and for promoting international
peace and development. We believe that the scientific and technological
developments are meaningless if they are not utilised to bring about the
economic betterment of the whole society. The fast changing world has thrown
up opportunities in almost every field and we must seize them to intensify
our cooperation in areas of mutual benefit.
The potential of our
economies should be fully utilized and we must encourage our business communities
to deal more intensively with each other to expand and increase the level
of economic cooperation and bilateral trade. The complementarities existing
between our countries must be fully taken advantage of for our collective
self-advancement.
Excellency, I am confident
that Indo-Mexican relations will be raised to a new level under your stewardship
in New Delhi. I would also like to take this opportunity to assure you of
my Government's full support and cooperation in the discharge of your responsibilities
in India. Finally, on behalf of the people of India, and on my own behalf,
I would like to convey through Your Excellency, our most cordial greetings
and best wishes for the health and happiness of H.E. President Dr. Ernesto
Zedillo and for the continued progress and prosperity of the friendly people
of Mexico.
Thank you
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