Ist Issue of June 2015 Vol.13 Issue:11 International Day ‘Tagore in India-UK Letter of Yoga 2015 Symphony’ – a of Intent in the A Curtain raiser musical tribute to Kullu field of academics event at The great Indian poet silver valley Nehru Centre Pg-2 Pg-4 Pg-6 Pg-8 Visit to Sweden and Belarus a great success, On the conclsusioan of yhis state President Shri Pranab Mukherjee visit to Sweden from 31st May to 2nd June and to Belarus from 2nd to 4th June, 2015, President Shri Pranab Mukherjee was upbeat over the bilateral relations with both the nations. During his visit to Stockholm and Minsk, he was accompanied by heads of seven leading academic institutions and a large business delegation of around 120 persons put together by FICCI, CII and The President, Shri Pranab Mukherjee meeting the Prime Minister of Sweden, Mr. The President, Shri Pranab Mukherjee calling on the President of the Republic of Belarus, ASSOCHAM who held Stefan Lofven, in Stockholm, Sweden on June 01, 2015. Mr. Alexander Lukashenko, at Palace of Independence, Belarus on June 03, 2015 discussions with their counterparts as well as countries which have been India’s young and growing for a, including the United intergovernmental concluded many agreements. supportive of India’s claim market offers synergies that Nations." agreements were concluded, Explaining the historical for permanent membership can spur a fresh phase of In Sweden, he held wide- covering cooperation in the significance of his visit, the of the UN Security Council. growth in our bilateral ranging discussions on fields of urban development, President pointed out that “Sweden,” he said “is an relationship. Belarus is a key bilateral as well as regional medium and small scale this was the first ever visit by important partner with whom partner in the wider Eurasian and multilateral issues with enterprises, polar research, an Indian President to we have shared multi-faceted region with many strengths. the King and Prime Minister civil nuclear research and Sweden and Belarus which and mutually beneficial India-Belarus relations are Stefan Lofven with a focus to medicine. Seventeen MoUs he said reflected the renewed relations over several based on goodwill among our strengthen bilateral economic were further signed between emphasis that India places on decades. Combining Swedish people for each other and a ties and to provide impetus to educational institutions, further enhancing its resources, technological positive legacy of cooperation in specific areas partnership with these two expertise and innovation with cooperation in multilateral of priority. Six Continued on page 2 On his maiden visit to Dhaka, PM Modi revives old bonds Beginning his maiden state visit the hope that the BIMSTEC Boundary Agree ment and its to Bangladesh on June 6 by Free Trade Agreement will be 2011 protocol, renewal of laying wreath at the National finalised soon. bilateral trade, coastal shipping, Martyrs' Memorial at Savar and Both Prime Ministers inland water transit and trade on paying homage to Bangabandhu reaffirmed their commitment to Dhaka-Shillong-Guwahati Bus Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, work closely in the UN and other Service and its Protocol and founder of Bangladesh, at the multi-lateral organisations incl - Kolkata-Dhaka-Agartala Bus Bangabandhu Memorial uding World Trade Organization Service and its protocol among Museum in Dhaka, Prime (WTO) under scoring the impo - others. Minister Shri Narendra Modi rtance of coor d inating each On the second day of his visit had a comprehensive meeting other's position on the emerging on June 7, The Prime Minister with Prime Minister Sheikh global devel opment architecture Shri Modi visited the Hasina. incl uding Post-201 5 Develo - Dhakeswari Temple and the The one-on-one meeting of pment Age nda, Migration and Ramakrishna Mission and spoke the two leaders was followed by Devel opment, and other multi- at a public event at the delegation level talks in a the bilateral relations to another furthering relevant lateral issues of common interest. Bangabandhu International Co n - cordial atmosphere reflecting level. regional/sub-regional During the visit, the two v ention Centre (BICC). He also the special bond the two In this context, it was cooperation processes countries signed key agreements received the 'Bangladesh countries share. Both Prime decided that Doordarshan and including SAARC, BIMSTEC on exchange of instruments of Liberation War Hono ur' from Ministers agreed to strengthen Bangladesh Television (BTV) and BCIM-EC, they reviewed ratification of 1974 Land President Md. Abdul Hamid diplomatic and consular will enter into an agreement to steps taken in this regard. They Boundary Agre ement and its and PM Sheikh H asina on presence in each other's country allow BTV to join Prasar welcomed the agreement on 2011 protocol, exchange of behalf of former Prime and boost people-to-people Bharati's DTH platform. establishing of the BIMSTEC letters on mod alities for Minister of India Shri Atal contacts. They pledged to take Pledging to work closely in electricity grid and expressed implementation of 1974 Land Bihari Vajpayee . 2 Ist Issue of June 2015 The Indian tribute at Magna Carta site The Indian High Commis sioner to the Narasimha Rao that reads: “As a UK, Mr. Ranjan Mathai, tribute to the historic Magna Carta, accompanied Mayor Councillor a source of inspiration throughout Derek Cotty to the field in the world; and as an affirmation of Runnymede on June 1 where the the values of Freedom, Democracy Magna Carta was signed to pay and the Rule of Law which the homage to the historical event. People of India cherish and have A tree was planted at the site by enshrined in their Constitution” the former Prime Minister of India, Prime Minister Rao was the Mr P.V. Narasim ha Rao, on March only foreign leader to have 16, 1994. Beneath the tree is a dedicated a tree in honour of the plaque with the inscription by Mr. site of Magna Carta . India-UK Letter of Intent in the field of academics Indian scientist Kamal Bawa Mr. Y.S. Chowdary, Hon’ble elected fellow of Royal Society Minister of State for Science & Distinguished Professor of Biology, Technology and Earth Sciences, University of Massachusetts-Boston, and countersigned a Letter of Intent Founder President, Ashoka Trust for on May 22 with Prof Sir Leszek Research in Ecology and the Borysiewicz, Vice-chancellor of Environment, Bangalore Mr. Kamal the University of Cambridge for Bawa is an evolutionary ecologist and mutual cooperation in academic India's most prominent conservation pursuits. biologist. His pioneering contributions to The Letter of Intent between understanding the population biology of tropical forest trees DBT and Cambridge (The led to new strategies for their conservation, and also for the Chancellor Masters and sustainable use of non-timber forest products. On this base he Scholars of the University of has provided leadership in conservation science in India by Cambridge), is to foster world establishing ATREE, an influential NGO that generates class research capacity and interdisciplinary knowledge, guides policymaking, enhance India-UK relations disseminates information, and builds human capacity in with the objective to upgrade biodiversity science. Through his work and popular writing academic, research and Kamal Bawa has promoted international cooperation in translational capacity of India science, while also strengthening biodiversity awareness and and the UK. public support for conservation in Indian civil society. Continued from page 1 Indian Navy’s INS Tarangini bound think tanks and the Chambers of Commerce of the two countries." The Swedish Prime Minister acknowledge the President’s suggestion that the two countries for Tall Ship Race in Europe should seek to enhance bilateral trade to $5 INS Tarangini, the Sail Training Ship Netherlands. This year, Tarangini will billion in the next three years. The Swedish side (STS) of Indian Navy, embarked on participate in the Tall Ship Race from also expressed their keenness for the conclusion an eight-month long voyage to Kristiansand (Norway) to Aalborg of negotiations on the India-EU Trade and participate in the annual Tall Ship (Denmark). She will also participate in Investment Agreement. Races and other events in Europe associated sail events such as Sail The President extended invitations to His organised under the aegis of Sail Rostock, Sail Bremerhaven in Majesty the King and the Prime Minister of Training International. During these German y and Sail Amsterdam in Sweden to Visit India to provide continued eight months (from May 4 to Netherland. About 300 sail ships of momentum to the relationship. A formal December 3, 2015), the ship will various sizes from all over the world invitation was also extended to the Swedish travel approximately 17,000 miles are expected to participate in this Speaker from the Speaker of the Lok Sabha. under sails. third in Youth Sailing Division in year’s events. In Minsk, the President was received warmly “Tall ship” is a term often used 2007 at USA. The ship’s voyage to 17 ports in by President Alexander Lukashenko and held generically to describe large, classic Apart from these races, the ship 14 countries will showcase India to wide-ranging, substantive and forward-looking sailing vessels. The first tall ship sails extensively across the Indian the world and demonstrate the Indian discussions on bilateral and regional issues and event was organised in 1956, where Ocean region for the purpose of Navy’s global reach. The theme for agreed to elevate relations to a higher trajectory, the foundation of Sail Training providing sail training experience to the voyage, codenamed LOKAYAN building on the enormous potential in trade and International was mooted. the officer cadets of the navy. The -15, has thus been chosen as investment, defence cooperation, science and The crew of the ship will Indian Navy believes that training “Tacking for a Broader Reach”.