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July 2011
Global cooperation must on environment: PM
Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, attended
a function to mark the valedictory session of the international seminar on Global Environment and Disaster Management: Law and Society in New Delhi on July 24. Referring to the consequences of the “global pursuit of rapid growth”, Prime Minister Singh drew attention to potentially radical climate change and resultant environmental disaster.
Text of the PM’s speech:
"I am indeed happy to be present here at the valedictory session of this very important International Seminar on Global Environment and Disaster Management. I compliment the Supreme Court and the co-sponsors for organising a seminar on such a contemporary and highly relevant issue.
In the past fifty years or so we have come face to face with unusual climatic occurrences, weather changes and environmental disasters. These are a
corollary of the global pursuit of rapid growth in particular rapid growth of industrialisation and, very often, the mindless and predatory exploitation of natural resources to sustain such patterns of development and industrialisation. These have happened across the world, without distinguishing between rich and poor nations. There have been
unprecedented heat-waves in the United States and Europe, devastating floods in China and tsunamis in South East Asia and more recently in Japan.
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India extends hand of friendship to Pakistan
India and Pakistan have sought to open “a new chapter” of “peaceful and cooperative” ties on July 25 by unveiling a host of initiatives to spur
trade and travel between the two countries. External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna held comprehensive discussions with his Pakistani counterpart Hina Rabbani Khar that covered the gamut of bilateral relations. Confidence-building
measures (CBMs) were the highlights of the joint statement issued after the talks. “The two countries agreed to simplify travel procedures and increase the frequency of bus services for people across the Line of Control (LoC), the de facto border that divides the state between the two countries,” said a joint statement. The enhanced travel across Kashmir would now “include visits for tourism and religious pilgrimage,” according to the statement.
Earlier, the bus service was only for the families who got separated after the 1947 war during which Pakistan occupied a portion of Jammu and Kashmir.
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India-UK Dialogue has strengthened ties: Finance Minister
Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee said the India-U.K. Economic and Financial Dialogue, which was established in 2005, had contributed successfully towards strengthening bilateral relationship between both the countries. Mukherjee was speaking at the Fourth Ministerial Level India-U.K. Economic and Financial Dialogue in London on July 25.
The Finance Minister pointed out that the significance of the dialogue was in laying the agenda and guidance for future engagements, adding that both the countries had identified a number of issues for joint collaboration. Mukherjee was also confident that further progress would be made in deepening economic relations based on appreciation of mutual concerns and aspirations of the two countries.
On India’s long relationship with Britain, the Finance Minister observed that both the countries
have shared a strategic partnership and have enjoyed traditionally warm and close bilateral relations in diverse areas. “Our two countries enjoy strong historical and cultural relations built on shared values and traditions.
Since the visit of Prime Minister David Cameron
to India in July 2010, we have seen our bilateral relationsbeing elevated to an enhanced partnership for the future,” Mukherjee said.
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