Diplomatist Magazine Diplomatist January 2019 | Page 34

COVER STORY
Pravasi Bharatiya Divas is celebrated once in two years. It is
organised to strengthen the engagement of the overseas Indian
community with the government, reconnect them with their roots
and celebrate their achievements and contributions.
After the inaugural ceremony, Prime Minister Jugnauth
held bilateral level talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi
in Varanasi. The discussions were very warm and cordial
given the extremely close and friendly relations between both
countries. The two Prime Ministers reviewed the entire gamut
of the long-standing and time-tested strategic relationship
between both countries, based on deep emotional bonds of
kinship and culture. The leaders noted with satisfaction that
India and Mauritius have always stood by each other and will
continue to do so in the decades to come. The discussions
focussed on initiatives to further strengthen the bilateral
ties, including fi nalization of the Comprehensive Economic
Cooperation Partnership Agreement (CEPCA). The various
ongoing bilateral development cooperation projects were
discussed and new proposals for critical partnership projects
in health, disaster management, and energy were agreed upon.
The leaders also discussed ways to expand further cooperation
in areas of Blue Economy and collaboration in Africa.
Pravind Jugnauth visited Sri Kashi Vishwanath temple
and also took part in the Ganga Aarti on 22nd January. The
delegates from across the world for the Pravasi Bharatiya
Divas not only experienced being on the bank of the holy
river and in the holy city, but they were taken to neighbouring
Allahabad, where thousands of devotees and ascetics from
across the country assembled for the “Ardh Kumbh” from
January 15 to March 4.
Pravasi Bharatiya Divas is celebrated once in two years.
It is organised to strengthen the engagement of the overseas
Indian community with the government, reconnect them with
their roots and celebrate their achievements and contributions.
The 15th edition of the PBD began with External Aff airs
Minister Sushma Swaraj and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister
Yogi Adityanath inaugurating the Youth Pravasi Bharatiya
Divas. Speaking on the occasion, Swaraj lauded the role of the
Indian diaspora in changing the world’s perception about India.
Source: Ministry of External Aff airs
34 • Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Diplomatist • Vol 7 • Issue 1 • January 2019, Noida