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Breaking
news: World's perception of India has changed: Indian
PM Modi in South Korea for economic deals! -Dr.
Abdul Ruff ______________ After visiting China and Mongolia as part of
his 3 nation tour, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has arrived in Seoul, South
Korea on 18 May t leg of his latest diplomatic sojourn. His discussions with the South
Korean leadership will be focused on boosting economic and trade cooperation. Prime Minister
Narendra Modi visited the Seoul National Cemetery today. He arrived earlier in
the day from Mongolia on a two-day visit to South Korea. Like China, South Korea, a close ally of USA,
is also impotent for India for economic and political reasons. South Korea, like Turkey, Saudi Arabia and
Japan, is also a strong contender for a veto on UN.
Before he begins talks with the South Korean
President, PM Modi addressed a reception hosted by the Indian community,
expected to be attended by about 1,500 people. Indian
Prime Minister said in his
address to the Indian community in Seoul that the world's perception of India
has changed in the past one year. "Today people are
excited to come to India. This is the mood that has changed. And after all, the
people make the Nation… India is being seen as the fastest growing economy of
the world," he said. Modi arrived in Seoul on Monday morning, in the last
leg of his three-nation visit that also took him to China and Mongolia.
Considerable significance is being attached in
New Delhi to the first state visit to be exchanged between India and South
Korea since PM Modi took office in May last year. PM Modi will hold talks with President
Park Geun-hye on bilateral, regional and global issues and will explore ways to
upgrade ties in diversified areas. A number of agreements are expected to be
signed.
PM Modi will pitch
for Korean investment in India when he addresses the India-Republic of Korea
CEOs Forum, which could also be attended by his host Ms Park. Bilateral trade
is about USD 16 billion and the two sides are keen to see that it goes up
substantially. There are 300 Korean companies which have invested about USD 3
billion in India. They employ about 40,000 workers in India. India's investment
in South Korea is close to USD two billion and Indian companies are looking
forward to greater access in that country to pharmaceutical and IT products.
The Prime Minister will also meet the heads of several Korean companies that
want to invest in India or have already invested. He will visit the Hyundai
Heavy Industries shipyard, with shipbuilding emerging as an important area of
cooperation between the two countries.
The Prime Minister flew into Seoul from
Mongolia, where he announced a credit line of $1 billion to that country to
expand its economic capacity and infrastructure. India and Mongolia decided to
upgrade their relationship from Comprehensive to "Strategic
Partnership". PM Modi was the first Indian Prime Minister to visit
Mongolia.
Korean President Park will host
a banquet in honour of the Indian prime minister in the evening.
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