External affairs minister interacts with varsity students
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, November 26 2022: Union minister of external affairs Dr S Jaishankar has said that the world and relationship between the nations are like competitive sports but much more complicated with its dangers, interests and agenda.

The union minister was attending an interaction programme with students and faculties of Manipur University and other universities held at City Convention Centre, Palace Compound, here, on Saturday.

Union minister of state for external affairs Dr RK Ranjan, state's education minister Th Basantakumar, education commissioner H Gyanprakash, director of higher education Rangitabali Waikhom, Manipur University vice-chancellor professor N Lokendra and MU MIMS head professor Ch Ibohal shared the dais with the union minister at the event.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr S Jaishankar observed, "It is very important in this world of 200 countries and organisations how do we make friends and build relationships, how do we secure ourselves.

So in a sense it is also like a sport, more like a team sport that we are playing for ourselves.

If we are playing for the team, we have to understand the playing field very well and try to appreciate the hurdles we are going to face.

We need to train and prepare ourselves and have the mental capability and strength to overcome challenges" .

The union minister further said that there are issues, dangers and challenges in today's world.

"We deal with them by making friends, by ensuring security so that our external interests progress.

If we need weapons, technology, right partners and political support, there are countries that understand what we are doing," he said.

"We need to see the world as a competitive playing field.

There are about 34 million Indians living abroad.

We should see the world as a workplace but not a marketplace.

If our country maintains right relationships and partners, we can accelerate our growth, relationship and national development," he added.

Talking about Covid challenges, the union minister informed that that there are no other countries in the world like India, which brought about 7-8 million people back in the middle of the very stressful situations of the pandemic.

"We managed to get 2 billion shots of Covid-19 to protect the people of the country from the pandemic.

We also provided free rations to millions of people to reduce their hardships during the pandemic," he said.

Jaishankar further said that the Indian system of governance under PM Modi today is very responsive to challenges.

"We have also become a model in terms of digital delivery.

Digital revolution is moving forward in our country as the government have maximised the opportunities," he further said.

The minister also spoke about developing connectivity, better health care system, trade, food, economy and export of goods and services during the function.

"India's North East is fulcrum to a larger region," he said.

India has a forum with Japan to improve connectivity in the northeast region.

Moreover, the ministry is taking up initiatives to improve relationship with neighbouring countries like Bhutan, Nepal, Bangladesh and Myanmar, he added.

Minister of state for external affairs Dr RK Ranjan said that Manipur is organically developed and youth of the state have developed a brand name for themselves.

It is PM Modi's agenda that ministers from his government visit the North East regularly to ensure delivery of services, he said.

Meanwhile, Education minister Th Basantakumar termed India's foreign policy as one of the most successful and laudable in recent years.

VCs, faculties & students of MU, Central Agricultural University, Dhanamanjuri University, Manipur Technical University, Manipur University of Culture, National Institute of Technology, Indian Institute of Information Technology, officials of education department also attended the function among others.

Later, the union minister along with chief minister N Biren visited Sangai Festival venue at Hapta Kangjeibung and launched a G-20 selfie booth.

He also interacted with students from different schools, who visited the festival, and stall operators.

Earlier, Dr S Jaishankar interacted with the business entities of the state in an event held at Hotel Classic Grande, here.

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