Gandhinagar, Jan 11 (IANS) US Secretary of State John Kerry arrived at the inaugural of the Vibrant Gujarat global investment summit well after Prime Minister Narendra Modi, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and World Bank president Jim Yong Kim had been seated and the function had started. As Kerry walked up the stage, Modi got up from his seat to welcome him.
Modi and Kerry did not just shake hands as world leaders generally do. Both gave each other a warm hug as the others, mostly industry captains, business leaders and CEOs, applauded. Kerry and Modi spoke to each other briefly as Gujarat Governor O.P. Kohli and Chief Minister Anandiben Patel looked on. In his speech later, Kerry said he was happy to be in the home state of Modi, whom he described as a visionary leader.
Kerry pointed out that US President Barack Obama's visit to India for the Jan 26 Republic Day Parade was a first for any US president.
"This is also the first time ever that a US president has visited one country twice in his tenure," Kerry said. The warmth Kerry and Modi showed and Obama's impending visit are clear signs of warming relations between the US and India.
xxx
Big applause
The biggest and almost continuous applause during the summit inaugural was not for John Kerry, Ban Ki-moon, Jim Yong Kim or others. The honour went to Bhutan's Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay.
Tobgay spoke just before Modi but was able to generate a lot of interest among those present. He spoke in English and near fluent Hindi and connected well with everyone. He spoke about Bhutan being a tiny Himalayan country and, while tucked away between giants China and India, offering abundant natural resources, tranquility and quality of life.
Tobgay spoke about the Gross Domestic Happiness being paramount instead of the world's race for higher GDP. The way he delivered his address, with facts about Bhutan, had the whole hall at the Mahatma Mandir complex applauding him.
xxx
British minister Lord Livingstone too had lighter moments in his speech. He thanked Indian industrial giant Tata Sons for giving Britain and the world the Jaguar-Land Rover brand of luxury cars. He had the gathering in splits when he remarked that most of the laws and regulations the Indian government was grappling with and trying to remove were actually made and implemented during the British rule in India. "Now we are helping the (Indian) government to remove these," he said.
xxx
Mastercard international's CEO Ajay Banga pointed out that he was a living example of 'Make in India', the slogan coined by Prime Minister Modi. "I was born in India and studied here (IIM Ahmedabad) and worked in India for 15 years. So I was made in India. Then I moved (to the US) and have been there for the last 15 years. I was exported there, as most Made in India things are," Banga said.
The people of Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine woke up to the sound of explosions on Monday morning.
Wheat slowing down in warehouses
Due to the delay in landing of wheat in the godowns and the unloading of unloaded rage among the
The number of corona patients in the country has increased to 36 lakh 87 thousand 939. Within the
Dalai Lama, a Citizen of World, Undeterred by Protests
Dharamsala, Feb 17 (IANS) Globetrotting elderly monk the Dalai Lama, who is revered as a spirit
Prophet Muhammad Row: Curfew imposed in Ranchi after the violence, SSP injured in stone-pelting
Prophet Muhammad Row: A fierce protest took place in Ranchi on Friday in protest against the rema
Japan's Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi will not attend the meeting of foreign ministers of G2
Wrote ORIG to Orange, PON to Pawan, officers were stunned to see such English of the headmaster
These days there is a discussion of a Guru Ji in Bihar, who is in the headlines for his knowledge
Another Rhino killed in Assam's Kaziranga
Guwahati, March 4 (IANS) Poachers have killed yet another one-horned rhino, the sixth this year
MNS chief Raj Thackeray held a press conference amid loudspeaker controversy and fears of arrest.
Amazon Deal: By November 13, the cheapest offer is running on these phones Redmi, Realme, and iQOO
Amazon Deal On Mobile: If you are looking for good phone deals, then definitely check phone offer
