15 August 2018•Update: 16 August 2018
By Faruk Zorlu
ANKARA
Marking India’s 72nd Independence Day, Indian President Ram Nath Kovind said the 21st century will be an Indian century, according to an official statement from the Indian Embassy in Ankara on Wednesday.
The statement quoted Kovind’s speech at the Independence Day ceremony as saying: “We are well into the second decade of the 21st century, a century that so many of us intuitively believe will be an Indian century, guided and shaped by India and its accomplishments.”
The embassy hailed bilateral relations between Indian and Turkey as well as the people in both countries.
“As India celebrates the 72nd anniversary of her independence, we recall the bonds of friendship between our two ancient civilizations and our unique partnership, which has grown stronger during this century,” said the statement.
It added that the “relations were built on the foundation of long-standing civilizational and friendly ties” between Turkey and India.
Praising Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s state visit to India last year as “a landmark in our bilateral relations” the embassy underlined “closer political-security cooperation, deeper economic engagement and extensive cultural and people-to-people exchanges."
The statement also touched on the “significant” trade volume of around $7 billion between Turkey and India, adding that both sides recognize need to explore opportunities for expansion and diversification.
“Our bilateral economic engagement is extensive and diverse, with a strong presence of Indian companies in Turkey and Turkish companies in India. The corporate sector is engaged in manufacturing, construction and services, bringing new technology and management expertise and contributing to exports and job creation. Two-way investments have shown positive trends in view of economic reforms, responding to economic opportunities and growing corporate interests,” it added.
On cultural relations between two countries, the embassy said: "The close cultural bonds between our peoples provide a foundation for friendship and mutual understanding. The Cultural Exchange Program expanded our cultural dialogue to new avenues, including with the youth."
"As we observe 70 years of the establishment of diplomatic relations between our countries we stand shoulder to shoulder in our quest for a better future for both our peoples and realizing the full potential of our bilateral partnership.”
