PM Modi inaugurates 2nd edition of Raisina Dialogue

Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered the 2nd Raisina Dialogue’s inaugural address in front of a global audience of over 250 international leaders, representatives and thinkers in the national capital on Tuesday.

He not only gave insight into tapping global opportunities and tackling challenges but also India’s perspective and vision.

He also pin-pointed Pakistan fostering of terrorism without mincing any words despite India’s repeated friendly overtures saying if it wants peace with India, it must give up terrorism.

India has consistently maintained that the entire world needs to work together to combat terrorism and radicalisation.

PM Modi took this a step ahead and said efforts in this direction have ensured international isolation of terror exporter Pakistan.

Prime Minister Modi elaborated how India’s policy of deepening neighbourhood and near neighbourhood external ties with several countries.

On China, he said its not unnatural for two large neighbouring powers to have differences but both need to show respect for each-others’ core concerns and interests.

PM Modi also referred to long-standing strategic ties with Russia and how he frequently connects with President Vladimir Putin.

He also said that he had spoken to US President-Elect Donald Trump and agreed to build up gains of strategic partnership.

He referred long standing ties with Russia and his talks with President Vladimir Putin.

At the event, PM Modi also mentioned his work on improving ties with countries world over during the last two and a half years.

He said the country’s people gave him a mandate to transform India in 2014. At the same time, he said it’s not India’s culture to only think of its own interest.

He said the world is going through profound change in different fields and regions. He expressed concern over growing sentiment against trade putting globalisation at risk.

He added that ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas’ is not for India alone but the entire world and India’s all round development is also essential for the world.

Among other global figures, the raisina dialogue is witnessing the participation of Nepalese Foreign Minister Prakash Sharan Mahat, former Afghan President Hamid Karzai, former Australia PM Kevin Rudd and Bangladesh Prime Minister Shiekh Hasina’s International Affairs Advisor Gauhar Rizvi.

The next two days will see the dialogue take up several issues related to global opportunities and challenges where representatives from 65 are participating.

The first edition was held in March last year by the Ministry of External Affairs along with the Observer Research Foundation.

The theme of the 2nd edition is ‘The New Normal: Multilateralism and Multipolarity’.

It is India’s flagship geo-political event which has become a much awaited think fest in the global calendar in very little time.