ADDRESS BY HON'BLE PRESIDENT OF INDIA AT PLAZA DE LA INDIA

Santiago, Chile, 21st April 2008

Mayor of Providencia Mr. Labbe,

President of the Indian Association of Santiago,

It gives me great pleasure to be here with you in Santiago, Chile, at this special Plaza de la India which was inaugurated in 1968 by the then Prime Minister of India -Mrs. Indira Gandhi.

It is indeed auspicious that the programme of my State visit to this beautiful country commences with salutations to the Father of our Nation, Mahatma Gandhi, and to our deeply respected national leaders - Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru and Rabindra Nath Tagore. The values and principles that these great leaders of India expounded, namely truth, non-violence, democracy, humaneness, and compassion, bind our two countries together.

I would like to convey my sincere appreciation and thanks to the Mayor of Providencia, Mr. Labbe for his courtesy and support in ensuring the maintenance of this memorial dedicated to our leaders.

Our two countries, as democracies across the globe, have maintained friendly relations for over fifty years. We are both developing countries. My visit is intended to demonstrate the importance that India accords to improving and strengthening our bilateral ties.

I would also like to take this opportunity to convey my good wishes to the members of the Indian community here in Chile who since 1905 have worked tirelessly for creating better business links and greater mutual understanding between our two countries. I call upon you to continue with your efforts for building stronger ties of friendship and understanding between India and Chile.

Muchas Gracias.