The Monthly Newsletter of the High Commission of India, Colombo Y 2012 APRIL - MA arliamentary delegation to Sri Lanka Visit of Indian P from 16-21 April 2012 C O N T E N T S VISITS EDUCATION Visit of Prime Miniter to South Joint Celebration of International Korea 3 Students Day & ITEC Day 25 Visit of President of Pakistan to Scholarships for Sri Lankan India 6 Students 25 State visit of Emir of Qatar to India 6 Hindi Courses at the Indian Cultural Centre 26 BRICS SUMMIT The Centre for Contemporary Indian Studies (CCIS), Universit y 27 of Colombo 4th BRICS Summit - New Delhi 7 Raghu Dixit Project Performed at Galle Music Festival 2012 28 Agreements between BRICS Develoment Banks 8 CULTURE Fourth BRICS Summit - Delhi Holi Blast 2012 29 Declaration 9 Nav Pratibha 2012 29 VISIT OF THE INDIAN PARLIAMENTARY Ghazal performances by Dr. DELEGATION TO SRI LANKA Kumud Diwan and her troupe 30 Statement by Hon'ble Sushma Madhur Sandhya - song & dance Swaraj, Leader of Opposition, Lok 13 by the Tagore Society of Sri 31 Sabha, India and Leader of All- Lanka Party Parliamentary Delegation to Sri Lanka at a media interaction Participation of High Commission of India in Ananda Abhimaan 31 Visit of The Indian Parliamentary 2012 Delegation in Pictures 15 Classical Kathak Evening by BILATERAL BEAT Moksha Samarasooriya 32 High Commission of India SAARC Film Day - Featuring No. 36 -38, Galle Road, Colombo 03, Sri Lanka Explanation of India’s vote at the "Iqbal" - a Film From India 33 Tel: +94-11 2327587, +94-11 2422788-9 UNHRC on Promotion, 21 Fax: +94-11-2446403, +94-11 2448166 Reconciliation and Accountability E-mail: [email protected] Exhibition of ‘Traditional Temple in Sri Lanka website: www.hcicolombo.org Paintings of Sri Lanka’ 33 facebook: www.facebook.com/hcicolombo inaugurated in India Indian Business supports Sri Assistant High Commission of India Lanka Expo 2012 21 No. 31, Rajapihilla Mawatha, PO Box 47, Kandy, Colombo International Theatre Sri Lanka Festival 2012 34 Tel: +94 81 2222652 Visit of an Indian Army Volleyball Fax: +94 81 2232479 team to Sri Lanka 22 E-mail: [email protected] Mrichchakateeham 34 Consulate General of India Fifty Indian companies participate 20 students from the Northern No. 103, New Road, Hambantota, Sri Lanka in India Investrade 2012 on ‘Realty Tel: +94-47 2222500, +94-47 2222503 23 Province visit New Delhi on an Construction & Construction 35 Fax: +94-47 2222501 Educational Tour E-mail: [email protected] Materials’ Consulate General of India Coast Guards of India, Sri Lanka No. 280, Palaly Road, Jaffna, Sri Lanka Tel: +94-21 2220502, +94-21 2220504, and Maldives successfully condu c t 24 +94-21 2220505 Fax: +94-21 2220503 Joint Exercise DOSTI XI E-mail: [email protected] COVER PAGE: Above: Photograph of BRICS leaders at the 4th BRICS Summit in New Delhi, India Below: Hon'ble Members of Indian Parliamentary delegation with HE the President of Sri Lanka, Mr Mahinda Rajapaksa at Temple Trees APRIL / MAY 2012 VISITS Visit of Prime Minister to South Korea growing economic, trade, security and cultural ties, as well as robust people-to-people exchanges. They examined ways to further enhance ties, underscoring the mutual convergence of interests and outlook between these two democracies of Asia. The two leaders also held wide- ranging discussions on regional, international and multilateral issues. It was noted that India – Republic of Korea relations were of mutual advantage and were conducive to peace, progress and stability in our respective regions, in the whole of Asia and even beyond. Strengthening Political and Security Cooperation Prime Minister Singh and President Lee, appreciating the role of the India-ROK Joint Commission (JCM) co-chaired by the Foreign Minister and External Affairs Minister of the two countries, reaffirmed that the Commission meet every year, alternately in Seoul and New Delhi. It was also decided that the seventh meeting of the Joint Commission will Prime Minister Manmohan Singh with South Korean President Lee Myung-bak during be held in New Delhi at the earliest a meeting at the Presidential House in Seoul date this year. The Prime Minister of India, Dr. Manmohan Singh paid The two leaders shared the view that the Foreign an official visit to the Republic of Korea (ROK), at the Policy & Security Dialogue (FPSD) at the level of Vice invitation of President Lee Myung-bak, on 25 March Foreign Minister, MOFAT and Secretary (East), MEA 2012. The Prime Minister of India, his spouse Shrimati was a useful instrument to exchange views and Gursharan Kaur and the accompanying delegation harmonize positions on a vast variety of bilateral, were received with great warmth and accorded a regional and international issues. It was agreed to hold ceremonial welcome at the Blue House. Prime the next meeting of the FPSD soon within this year in Minister Singh held a restricted summit meeting with New Delhi. President Lee, followed by delegation level talks. Thereafter, a luncheon banquet was hosted by The two leaders expressed satisfaction at the President Lee in honour of the visiting dignitary and his strengthening bilateral cooperation in the areas of delegation. defense and security. Prime Minister Singh conveyed India’s decision to set up a defense wing at the During the summit meeting, Prime Minister Singh and Embassy of India, Seoul within this year, which was President Lee conducted a thorough review of and welcomed by President Lee. hailed the multifaceted bilateral relationship, which has rapidly acquired greater depth and vitality since its The two sides exchanged views on the prevailing elevation to a Strategic Partnership during the complex security situation and underlined the need to landmark State visit to India of President Lee in actively pursue consultations and cooperation in the January 2010. They agreed that the State visit of field of maritime safety and security both bilaterally President Shrimati Pratibha Devisingh Patil to the and in association with other countries of the region. Republic of Korea in July 2011, had imparted further The ROK side recalled the timely and useful visit of momentum to the engagement and dialogue process Defense Minister A K Antony in September 2010, between the two countries. The two leaders expressed which provided an excellent opportunity for both sides satisfaction at regular high-level exchanges, steadily to exchange views on the entire range of defense and 3 APRIL / MAY 2012 security issues. It was agreed that the Defense for joint investment in third countries. The two leaders Minister of ROK would pay a return visit to India later also reaffirmed the importance of implementing the this year. POSCO project in the State of Odisha. Prime Minister Singh and President Lee also agreed to The two leaders welcomed the steady growth in travel continue high-level exchanges between the defense between the two countries, reflective of enhanced establishments of both sides, undertake activities as business and people to people exchanges. They mutually agreed for deepening bilateral defense agreed to increase mutual efforts to further improve air relations and to explore the possibilities of joint connectivity between the two countries. It was also ventures in research & development and manufacture agreed to hold the next round of civil aviation talks at an of military equipment, including through the transfer of early date, to examine various proposals on the table, technology and co-production. President Lee including the increase of the capacity entitlements for underscored that the ROK side wanted to increase the air carriers of the two countries, in a constructive cooperation with India in military and defense industry and forward-looking spirit. including, inter alia, naval ships, aircrafts, and ship- building. Enhancing Science and Technology Cooperation Expanding Economic and Trade Cooperation Prime Minister Singh and President Lee welcomed the Prime Minister Singh and President Lee noted with upgrading of the Joint Committee on Science and satisfaction that bilateral trade had increased by Technology to the ministerial level as a foundation for around 70 percent in two years since the entry into common growth. They noted that the $ 10 million joint force of the India - ROK Comprehensive Economic R&D fund is being actively utilized for joint research Partnership Agreement (CEPA) on 1 January, 2010, projects, human resources exchanges, workshops, crossing the $ 20 billion mark in 2011. A Joint and other science and technology cooperation Committee has already been instituted at the level of programs. Trade/Commerce Ministers to regularly review the working of CEPA and upgrade it as and when required. Both leaders pledged to enhance cooperation in the The first meeting of the Joint Committee had taken peaceful uses of outer space as envisaged in the MOU place in New Delhi on 20th January 2011. It was on cooperation between the Indian Space Research agreed to have the second Ministerial Committee Organization (ISRO) and the Korea Aerospace meeting in Seoul this year. Research Institute (KARI). The leaders noted that the technical experts from both sides met in Bangalore, The two leaders agreed to set a new bilateral trade India, in March 2011 and identified priority areas of target of US$ 40 billion by 2015. Prime Minister Singh cooperation. The Korean side welcomed India’s underlined the desirability of balanced trade relations, participation in the RoK’s international open bidding which would facilitate a robust growth rate in the long for launching Korean satellites. The two leaders term. It was agreed that both sides would explore proposed that the concerned agencies of both constructive and forward looking ways to facilitate countries study the possible cooperation in future greater market access to each other’s products and space activities including launching a nano-satellite services.