Make 21st century that of India: Modi ›
... It becomes our duty to make it (21st century) India’s century and I say it is possible... Our efforts are aimed ensuring everything in our nation matches global standards NARENDRA MODI, Prime Minister
MANILA: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said it is the duty of Indians to work to make the 21st century India’s century.
“If the 21st century is considered to be Asia’s century, then it becomes our duty to make it India’s century and I say it is possible,” Modi said at an Indian community reception organised by Indian Ambassador to the Philippines Jaideep Mazumdar.
“Our efforts are aimed at transforming India and ensuring everything in our nation matches global standards,” he said.
The PM added that India had always contributed to world peace.“our contingent in the UN Peacekeeping Forces is among the biggest,” he said. “India is the land of Mahatma Gandhi, peace is integral to our culture.”
Stating that he had come to a country and a region that was very important to India, he said that his government had stressed on the Act East Policy from the very beginning.
Modi arrived here on Sunday on a three-day visit to the Philippines during the course of which he will attend the 15th India-association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Summit and the 12th East Asia Summit. Duterte to boost bilateral ties.
Modi, the first Indian PM to visit the Philippines in 36 years, had a ‘very warm and cordial meeting’ with president Duterte, secretary east, ministry of external affairs, Preeti Saran said.
She said the two countries signed an agreement to boost bilateral cooperation in defence and logistics and also inked pacts on enhancing cooperation in agriculture and small and medium enterprises , Saran said.
PM PROMOTES REFORMS The task of transforming India is proceeding on an “unprecedented scale”, Modi told the powerful ASEAN grouping while hardselling his government’s economic reform initiatives to boost trade and investment.
Addressing the ASEAN Business Forum , the PM said most sectors of the Indian economy were opened up for foreign direct investment, adding the country’s economy is now “globally integrated”.