SPEECH
BY SHRI K.R. NARAYANAN, PRESIDENT OF INDIA, WHILE RECEIVING CREDENTIALS FROM MR. JULIO FAESLER
CARLISLE, AMBASSADOR-DESIGNATE OF THE UNITED MEXICAN STATE
NEW DELHI, JANUARY 21, 2002
Excellency,
I
am pleased to accept Your Excellency’s Letter of Credence as Ambassador
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United Mexican State to India
and to extend to you and members of your family a very warm welcome to
my country.
It
is a matter of great satisfaction to us that since 1950, when our two
countries established formal diplomatic relations, India and Mexico have
shared close and cordial ties and have engaged in mutually beneficial
cooperation. Our two countries have also been strong upholders of the
UN Charter and have cooperated with each other in various multilateral
fora including the United Nations and the G-15. We are both committed
to the use of peaceful means for the settlement of international disputes
and recognise the need for a more equitable international economic order.
India
and Mexico are ancient civilizations and share many common values and
objectives. Our pluralist societies cherish tolerance and respect for
human rights as major guiding principles of our domestic and international
policies. As we begin our journey in the 21st century, our
fast changing world faces great challenges, which require imaginative
and equitable solutions. India and Mexico could work together in finding
appropriate responses to these challenges. In this context, we appreciate
Mexico’s understanding of our potential and we welcome Your Excellency’s
initiative for establishing deeper economic, technological, academic and
cultural ties.
India
is ready to share with Mexico, its experiences in such important sectors
as information technology, pharmaceuticals, small-scale industries, agriculture,
etc. India is also appreciative of the great strength and diversity of
the Mexican economy and its growing importance in world affairs. Indian
industry will be only too happy to cooperate with its Mexican counterpart
to benefit from Mexico’s association with NAFTA, and its flourishing relations
with Central and South American countries. In recent years, India has
been seeking to forge closer ties with the entire Latin American region
and would very much appreciate Mexico’s support in the attainment of our
goal of establishing a mutually beneficial relationship with the entire
Hispanic world.
Given
the richness of traditions, the development of our cultural ties is the
consequence of the respective ethos of our two countries. These have been
nourished by eminent literary luminaries of the stature of Gurudev Rabindranath
Tagore and your celebrity poet and predecessor in India, His Excellency
Octavio Paz. With a view to helping create greater understanding among
our peoples, we must further strengthen the existing ties through meaningful
exchanges of scholars, academics, artistes and cultural projects.
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 His Excellency President Mr. Vicente Fox and for the continued progress
and prosperity of the friendly people of Mexico.
Thank you
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