Your Excellency Dr. Hassan Rouhani, President of the Islamic Republic of Iran,
Your Excellency Dr. Ashraf Ghani, President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan
Honourable Ministers
Ladies and Gentlemen
A famous poet of Persia, Hafez once said:
रोज़े- हिज्रो-शबे-फ़ुर्क़ते-यार आख़र शुद
ज़दम इन फ़ालो-गुज़श्त अख़्तरो कार आख़र शुद्
[Meaning: Days of separation are over; night of wait is coming to an end; Our friendship will stay forever.]
Today, we are all witnessing creation of
history. Not just for the people of our three countries, but for the
entire region. To build bonds of connectivity is the most basic of human
urges. Today, we seek to fulfil it. We are grateful to Excellency
Rouhani for hosting this unique event. Thank you President Ashraf Ghani,
for your presence. It truly holds a special significance. It is a
privilege to be here. Excellency Rouhani, President Ghani and I have
just held detailed discussions on a range of issues. The agenda for
economic engagement is a clear priority for us. We stand together in
unity of our purpose. To carve out new routes of peace, and prosperity
is our common goal. We want to link with the world. But, better
connectivity among ourselves is also our priority. It is indeed a new
dawn for the region.
Excellencies,
Iran, Afghanistan and India are deeply
aware of the richness and reality of our ancient links. Through
centuries, art and culture, ideas and knowledge, language and traditions
have formed a common bond between us. Even through turmoil of history,
our societies never lost touch with each other. Today, we meet to write
new chapters in our engagement.
Excellencies, The Agreement on the
establishment of a Trilateral Transport and Transit Corridor signed just
a while ago can alter the course of history of this region. It is a new
foundation of convergence between our three nations. The corridor would
spur unhindered flow of commerce throughout the region. Inflow of
capital and technology could lead to new industrial infrastructure in
Chahbahar. This would include gas based fertilizer plants,
petrochemicals, pharmaceuticals and IT. The key arteries of the corridor
would pass through the Chahbahar port of Iran. It's very location, on
the mouth of Gulf of Oman, is of great strategic significance.
Afghanistan will get an assured, effective, and a more friendly route to
trade with the rest of the world. The arc of economic benefit from this
agreement would extend beyond our three nations. Its reach could extend
to the depths of the Central Asian countries. When linked with the
International North South Transport Corridor, it would touch South Asia
at one end and Europe at another. And, studies show that as compared to
the traditional sea routes, it could bring down the cost and time of the
cargo trade to Europe by about 50%. Over time, we could even look to
connect it with the strong sea and land based routes that India has
developed with the Indian Ocean Region and South East Asia.
Excellencies,
The world of 21st century offers unique
opportunities.But, it also poses its own set of challenges.Today, the
nature of global engagement requires an attitude more suitable to this
century, not the mindset of the century gone by. Today, the watch-words
of international tiesare trust not suspicion; cooperation not dominance;
inclusivity not exclusion. This is also the guiding philosophy and
driving spirit of the Chahbahar Agreement. This will be a corridor of
peace and prosperity for our peoples. Motives of economic growth, and
empowerment would drive it. It will build our security without making
others vulnerable. It would break barriers among our nations and
encourage new benchmarks of people-to-people contacts. And, help us to
eventually build what we all desire and deserve - a friendly and healthy neighborhood.
Excellencies,
The world around us is changing in
fundamental ways. And, the lack of comprehensive connectivity is not the
only challenge that limits our national growth. Political turmoil and
undercurrents of economic stress continue to spread in West Asia. In the
Indo-Pacific, rise a mix of political competition and economic
opportunities is putting pressure on the existing Asian order. Global
economy is yet to fully come out of uncertainty and weakness. Our
present growth and future prosperity is under threat from the spread of
radical ideas and physical terror. Amidst this landscape, our three
countries are blessed with the most potent resource—our youth. Our three
nations are estimated to have more than 60 percent of their population
under 30 years of age. They are an asset in our national and regional
development. We want them to walk the road to knowledge and skills;
industry and enterprise. And, not fall victim to the path of guns and
violence. I am confident that economic fruits of the Chahbahar Agreement
will expand trade, attract investment, build infrastructure, develop
industry and create jobs for our youth. The Agreement will strengthen
our ability to stand in mutual support against those whose only motto is
to maim and kill the innocents. Its success will be a positive vote for
peace and stability in the region.
Excellencies, It is my strong belief
that trade and transit routes should only be a starting point of our
journey to greater connectivity. In my vision, the full spectrum of
connectivity agenda between Iran, Afghanistan and India should span:
•
from culture to commerce;
• from traditions to technology;
• from Investments to IT;
• from services to strategy; and
• from people to politics.
In a way, it is a pledge to:
• Realize the imperative of better connectivity;
• Establish peace and create stability;
• Build economic prosperity and engineer new trade ties;
• Curb radicalism and remove shadows of terror; and
• Break barriers and spread sweetness of familiarity among our people.
History will look back at this effort with nothing but approval and admiration.
I compliment Excellencies Rouhani and Ghani for their leadership in guiding this effort.
Thank you all. Thank you very much.
Ref: http://www.narendramodi.in/category/speeches
