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Date: 10 April 2008 Almaty
(Kazakhstan): Vice-President Hamid Ansari was awarded an
honorary degree by the prestigious Al-Farabi Kazakh National
University here on Wednesday.
The citation, read out by the university Rector, Tolegen
Kozhamkulov, applauded the Vice-President for furthering the
cause of India-Kazakhstan relations.
Accepting the honour, Mr. Ansari said: "India's focus since
Independence has been to improve our people's lives through
inclusive economic development within a pluralist, secular,
equitable and democratic framework. In making this effort,
India has also decisively demonstrated that democracy and
development are compatible and necessary for ensuring
sustainability."
The Vice-President said "the primary task of our foreign
policy has been to enable the transformation of India's
society and economy, restoring traditional patterns of dealing
with the world, and building strategic autonomy of choice."
The function was attended by senior faculty members and
students.
In his opening remarks, the Rector gave details of exchange of
scholars and teachers between the university and various
centres of higher learning in India.
The university is one of the oldest educational institutions
in Central Asia.
Source: Hindu |