SPEECH
BY SHRI K.R.NARAYANAN, PRESIDENT OF INDIA, WHILE RECEIVING CREDENTIALS FROM
MR.CHEANG ENG NGUON, AMBASSADOR-DESIGNATE OF THE ROYAL GOVERNMENT
OF CAMBODIA
NEW DELHI, JUNE 12, 2001
Excellency,
I
am very happy to receive from His Majesty King Norodom Sihanouk the Letter
of Credence accrediting you as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
of the Kingdom of Cambodia to the Republic of India and would like to
extend to you a very warm and cordial welcome to India. I reciprocate
His Majesty’s kind sentiments and would like to extend my warmest regards
and best wishes for His Majesty’s health and well-being, as well as for
the continued prosperity and welfare of the friendly people of Cambodia. India
and Cambodia share traditional and civilisational links, going way back
into history and draw inspiration from shared values and strong cultural
bonds. Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom and other world-renowned historical
monuments in Cambodia are a living testimony to this close affinity. Buddhism
has been a major influence on the Indian and Cambodian culture and tradition
over the centuries.
In India, there is much goodwill for Cambodia.I
am happy to note that our bilateral relations have developed smoothly.
I am confident that these friendly and cordial ties will be further nurtured
during your tenure. Indo-Cambodian economic cooperation has been guided
by the spirit of South-South cooperation. Both our countries can work
together to mobilise closer economic interaction among the countries of
the South in order to promote more equitable global development.India
has been extending assistance to Cambodia in the form of technical experts
and training facilities. We are prepared to place at Cambodia’s disposal
our expertise and experience in relevant areas including human resource
development. The spirit of South-South cooperation would continue to inspire
our bilateral relationsI
am encouraged to note that India and Cambodia have been among the first
to reach out to each other with emergency assistance during natural calamities,
such as the Mekong River floods of September 2000 and the Gujarat earthquake
of January 2001.Bilateral
trade between India and Cambodia has increased steadily during the last
few years. However, there is a lot of potential for expansion of our economic
and commercial relations.
Close personal interactions at high levels are
an important way to strengthen relations between nations and we remember
with special fondness the visit last year of His Excellency Prime Minister
Hun Sen when a Joint Commission on trade, economic, scientific and technological
cooperation was established. I am pleased that our Vice-President, Shri
Krishan Kant was able to visit Cambodia earlier this week and hold very
useful discussions with your leaders.
Excellency,
I appreciate the commitment you have expressed towards strengthening friendship
and cooperation between our two countries. I have no doubt that, with
your experience, you will be able to contribute significantly towards
enhancing the multi-faceted cooperation between India and Cambodia. In
welcoming you to India, I would like to assure you that you will receive
the fullest cooperation of my Government in the fulfilment of your mission
to further deepen and diversify the friendly ties existing between our
two countries. I wish you a successful tenure of office and a pleasant
and comfortable stay in India.
Thank you
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